A self-styled dating coach who was condemned over his misogynistic tactics for "picking up" women has been banned from the UK.
Julien Blanc faced a barrage of criticism over the dating bootcamps which he planned to hold in London between December 13-15.
But now Mr Blanc is reportedly set to be denied entry to Britain after an online petition calling on the Home Office to refuse his visa application received more than 150,000 signatures. The petition asks the Home Secretary Theresa May to "not let the UK play host to events where men are being taught how to violate and harass women."
The 25-year-old American, who works under the company name of Real Social Dynamics, has already been banned from Australia.
He reportedly charges clients £1,000 per session as he supposedly schools them in how to approach women they are attracted to.
But his opponents claim his tactics are manipulative, saying they promote sexual assault.
On the Real Social Dynamics website, prospective students are offered the chance to "raid our personal stash of things to say to get girls laughing, interested, and attracted to you."
The website adds: "Some of the techniques that we give you are just killer. The kind of stuff that simply knocks girls over, and has them intrigued with you right from the get-go."
Commenting on a move to ban Mr Blanc from Britain today, Lynne Featherstone, minister of state at the Home Office, said: "I am very pleased that Mr Blanc will not be coming to our shores."
A Home Office spokesman would not confirm the ban but said: "The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds.
"It is longstanding practice that we do not comment on individual exclusion cases unless they are made public by the excluded individual.
"This Home Secretary has excluded more foreign nationals on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour than any before her.”
