A FATHER’S rights activist who showed his “balls” on live morning TV doesn’t regret the stunt – and says he would do it again in the fight for dads’ rights.

Fathers 4 Justice founder Matt O’Connor left Good Morning Britain hosts reeling when he unzipped his trousers before flinging several knitted pink balls onto the desk as they debated whether Father’s Day should be scrapped.

9 The father-of-three flung two sets of pink balls on to the desk Credit: ITV

The 51-year-old has since claimed he has been banned from appearing on the morning show after the stunt after host Kate Garraway told him off, saying he had “let dads down”.

But Matt O’Connor said he would do anything needed to get people talking about dads being denied access to their kids

The knitted balls had been given to him by grandparents barred from seeing their grandchildren, with the fluffy pink objects aimed at encouraging people to talk about the issue.

Passionate Matt told The Sun Online: “Sometimes you have got to do things which may upset a few people unfortunately.

9 Matt, pictured with his three sons, said he had been denied access to his kids previously and it had nearly killed him Credit: Matt O'Connor

9 Matt had taken the knitted balls into the studio to raise awareness for grandmothers who weren't able to see their grandkids

9 Child development specialist Ollwyn Moran who was debating the issue with Matt looked horrified as he stood up Credit: ITV

9 Fathers 4 Justice activist Matt O'Connor opened his trousers live on Good Morning Britain today Credit: ITV

9 Matt had started the debate in a civilised fashion but it quickly descended into chaos Credit: ITV

“But it’s always done in good humour, in great British satire.

“It’s a very serious issue – and we use humour to get that message across.”

Matt said he hadn’t planned on pulling out the knitted pink balls on TV until he arrived at the ITV studios, claiming he was treated like a “social leper.”

Matt said: “I went and sat in the green room, they I was asked to leave.

9 Matt said his wife Nadine had encouraged him to show the balls on national TV Credit: Matt O'Connor

9 Kate and Ranvir Singh cried 'No' repeatedly as Matt continued Credit: ITV

9 Grandmothers have joined the Fathers4Justice campaign, knitting 'balls' to hand out

“I was sat outside in a large external studio on my own with a security guard.”

Matt, who has since remarried after his first marriage broke down, said he had been left furious – telling his wife Nadine about what happened.

He said: “I was chatting to her, and she was furious and suggested ‘why don’t you whip your balls out on national TV’.”

Matt said he then went to the toilet and placed a few of the balls down the front of the trousers, with his decision borne out of “sheer frustration.”

The dad said he had to undo his belt and unzip his trousers slightly to get the objects out, but made sure he hadn’t exposed himself.

But while the dad said it had been meant to be humorous, the hosts did not seem amused.

BALLS UP What is Fathers 4 Justice, who is Matt O’Connor, what happened on GMB and when did they scale Buckingham Palace? Fathers 4 Justice is a campaign group fighting for the rights of fathers in the UK. It was founded in 2001 by Matt O’Connor with the aim to gain support for changes in legislation concerning the rights of fathers to see their kids. The group mainly uses stunts, often wearing fancy dress or costumes to gain media attention. One of their most well-known stunts was when activist Jason Hatch scaled the walls of Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman in September 2004. He was arrested by all charges were later dropped. In the same month David Chick climbed the London Eye, causing the attraction to temporarily close.

Hosts Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh were both visibly shocked, saying “no, no, no” as Matt unzipped his trousers.

During the segment, the hosts had suggested producers kept those set to appear on the show apart before a debate, but Matt said that wasn't true.

After the interview, Matt claimed he had been approached by a “very angry” producer who banned him from appearing on the show again.

He said: "I didn't think they would take it quite so badly, they were very upset."

Matt, who has been campaigning for almost 20 years, said he had received messages of support.

Some even joked he had become the "Eight Honourable Member for Fathers 4 Justice".

He said others had not been quite so impressed.

But despite the backlash, Matt said he wouldn’t stop fighting to give dads a voice.

He said: “I was pretty frustrated and disappointed – the fact we were even having a debate about Father’s Day was disrespectful to dads.”

The dad, of Clapham, London, said he had been through the system himself, left devastated when he lost access to his two sons when his marriage broke down two decades ago.

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He said: “It was just horrendous – it’s such an inhumane, cruel and brutal system.

“It nearly killed me, losing access to my boys, and dads need a voice.”

Matt said he had started the campaign after being awarded access to his kids again, since going on to remarry and have a third son, Archie, 12.

ITV has been contacted for comment.

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