Journalist Owen Jones has urged Londoners to attend a vigil tonight to honour those killed in the Orlando nightclub massacre - after storming off a live paper review when he clashed with the host over the gunman’s motives.
Thousands of people have pledged their attendance to the vigil in Soho in solidarity with the 50 people killed and dozens wounded when Omar Mateen opened fire on crowds at the Pulse gay nightclub in Florida.
Mr Jones, 31, walked off the Sky News’ paper review programme in protest at his host Mark Longhurst and guest Julia Hartley-Brewers’ apparent refusal to describe the shooting as a homophobic hate crime.
He was met with a flurry of support on Twitter after taking off his microphone and storming off set, admitting he was “upset”.
In a series of tweets to his 440,000 followers this morning, Mr Jones said: “Thanks for all the lovely comments: but it really was just an instinctive reaction to an unpleasant situation, this isn't about me.
“Orlando was both a terrorist attack and a homophobic attack on LGBT people - this really isn't hard.
“Whether you're LGBT or straight, please link arms in Old Compton Street tonight at 7pm in solidarity with Orlando.”
Despite disagreeing with his co-panelist Ms Hartley-Brewer during the newspaper review, he took to Twitter to defend her after she was trolled on social media after the show.
Mr Jones wrote: “And please lay off @JuliaHB1 - none of the abuse directed at her is in my name.”
Some 2,500 people have already confirmed their attendance to tonight's 7pm vigil on Facebook.
Venues along Old Compton Street will stop serving temporarily and revellers will be invited out on to the street to join hands.
Pride in London has also announced it will be holding a minute's reflection in Trafalgar Square during its annual parade on June 25, where 14,000 people are expected to turn out to celebrate their sexuality.
