Badenoch criticised for rape joke from social media post

Newly elected Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been condemned over an unearthed image that shows her making a joke about rape on her personal Facebook page.

- MILLIE COOKE

The former women and equalities minister has been criticised by anti-domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, which said it was appalled by the image.

In a post on her own page dated from January 2008, which was still visible on her profile as recently as last week, Ms Badenoch shared an image of three men with the caption: “The Drummond beer rape incident.” The picture shows a man lying on the floor while another man sits on top of him holding a bottle, and a third man covers his mouth and nose.

Women’s Aid called for Ms Badenoch to take responsibility for the post, suggesting jokes about sexual violence perpetuate abuse and misogynistic attitudes towards women.