Justin Webb made the comments during a debate on an Oxford academic accused of homophobia

Today show presenter Justin Webb angered some listeners after claiming that being against gay rights is “legitimate” and “acceptable” despite not being “fashionable”.

The Radio Four presenter made the comments during a debate on whether Oxford academic John Finnis should be sacked.

Finnis has previously said that homosexual acts are “wrong”, “merely animal” and “never a valid, humanly acceptable choice”.

Over 400 people have signed a petition calling for him to be removed from his position at Oxford University where he teaches compulsory classes in law.

Student Sulamaan Rahim went on the Today show to argue that he should be sacked.

During the debate, Rahim said:

He is a legal philosopher, he clearly has written against a lot of the enshrinement in law of the rights that gay people now have

Webb replied:

Those are legitimate, acceptable views to have aren’t they in wider society? Particularly in a university. I mean he might be wrong but he can hold the views. You seem stumped by the very idea that someone can hold views that are no longer fashionable, no longer acceptable in much of society, but still hold those views.

While some listeners described Rahim as a “snowflake”, others took to Twitter to express anger over this interview.

Hearing a student get bullied on air this morning for saying he doesn’t want to be taught by a professor who wrote “homosexuality is bestiality” in an academic journal & told he just can’t handle “unfashionable views” coz he’s a snowflake was a real low point for @BBCr4today — Holly Baxter (@h0llyb4xter) January 10, 2019

Pls don’t refer to hard won civil rights as the product of ‘fashionable views.’ Weird defence of homophobia by #r4today — Lily Hannigan (@LilyHannigan) January 10, 2019

"Why can't students can't turn up to a lecture where the teacher thinks being gay is a bestial inhuman act & just debate him?" Cos it's not acceptable for students to have to spend every week arguing for their basic humanity when they're supposed to be learning #r4today #radio4 — Rebecca Cooney (@RebeccaKCooney) January 10, 2019

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