CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the news that an American "pick-up artist" who offered sexist and violent tips on how to attract women has been barred from the UK.
Self-styled "dating guru" Julien Blanc, who was forced to apologise this week after he was accused of inciting violence with a string of "utterly abhorrent" comments, had planned to bring his seminars to the UK later this month. But it led to more than 150,000 people signing a petition calling for the 26-year-old to have his visa application declined.
The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases, but Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone, a Home Office minister who lobbied Home Secretary Theresa May to ban Mr Blanc, confirmed the decision. She said: "Julien Blanc's presence in the UK could have led to an increase in sexual violence and harassment. I am delighted that Mr Blanc won't be coming to our shores."
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