James Lock has blasted the government for “inciting hate” towards influencers as he revealed he’s been hit with horrifying death threats after travelling to Dubai.
Taking aim at Home Secretary Priti Patel, the 34-year-old The Only Way Is Essex star said he has received death threats and been bombarded with vile online trolling.
Speaking to The Sun, the media personality said that Home Secretary Priti Patel ‘incited hate’ when she criticised influencers for ‘showing off’ on their luxury getaways.
He said to the publication: “We’ve been bombarded with vile abuse.
“We have had death threats. People have said ‘I hope you get Covid and die’, they’ve said ‘I hope your family gets Covid and dies’.
James Lock has blasted the government for ‘inciting hate’ towards influencers (Image: jameslock_/Instagram)
“The hate has increased one hundred per cent after what Priti Patel said in the House of Commons.”
The reality star continued that he thought it was “disgusting” that the Home Secretary “has tried to use influencers as a scapegoat”.
He continued: “She has basically incited hate. We’ve been bombarded with hate and death threats ever since then. It’s increased tenfold. It’s been crazy.”
James said Home Secretary Priti Patel ‘incited hate’ when she ‘criticised influencers’ (Image: Getty Images)
Dubai has seen a spike of Covid-19 cases recently and the UK has now added the UAE to its red travel list, with all direct flights cancelled.
Lockie and Yaz recently split up while in Dubai, but James has defended his ex after she received trolling.
He said Yaz has been getting “nasty and personal” abuse.
James is currently working in Dubai as a content creator for live shopping app OOOOO.
He also said staying in Dubai would help him “protect [his] mental health”.
Lockie and his ex Yaz have been bombarded with vile online abuse (Image: Instagram)
James added that people have “called for us to be arrested and sacked from TOWIE”.
He added: “We’ve lost followers but we haven’t actually done anything wrong. We flew out before lockdown and stayed out here.”
James denied breaking the rules and revealed his own personal experience with the virus as his family had struggled with Covid-19.
He said: “My own family has had a personal tragedy due to Covid. I know how serious it is. It has hit my family. I’m not taking this lightly.”
The Celebs Go Dating star laid the blame on the government for “constantly changing the rules”.
He said: “It is a really difficult time for everyone and I understand everyone is looking for someone to blame.
“But I think the Government is doing anything it can to pass blame and not take responsibility for their mistakes including blaming influencers.”
He added that he doesn’t think “UK Government has handled the pandemic well at all” and “they made the situation so much worse”.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
