ITV GMB outrage as Reform UK's Zia Yusuf given 'ridiculous' Andrew Tate grilling by 'obsessed' Ed Balls: 'Aggressive and BIASED!'

On the agenda for Balls and Singh was a cross-examination of Reform UK's costing of its policies, including a planned reintroduction of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, as well as a discussion about the party's approach to migrant hotels.

However, arguably the biggest talking point from the interview was when Balls turned his attention to the impact controversial influencer Andrew Tate was having on his younger, predominantly male audience.

"What do you think about the impact that Andrew Tate is having on the moral well-being of young men in Britain?" Balls put to the Reform UK chairman after Yusuf had previously called for a "model re-education".

Yusuf replied: "I think that what has often happened is people look at essentially a symptom of something that is much larger. Reform is polling at roughly one in five young people, and that skews slightly at 60-40 men to women, and young men in this country feel utterly betrayed.

"They are the only category -" Yusuf continued before being cut off by Singh, who said he "didn't appear to be condemning Andrew Tate".

"Because it's a total red herring," Yusuf hit back, which prompted Balls to interject: "Andrew Tate is not a red herring. He's seen by millions and billions across the world, including young people. Teachers (and) parents really worry about him."

Looking at a sheet of paper, Balls then read aloud a TikTok excerpt from Tate in which he allegedly said men should "bang out the machete", "boom her face", and "grip her up by the neck" if they're questioned about cheating by female partners.

"Now, having that restored on X by Andrew Tate, isn't that going against the morals of our young people? What would you do? If you want to be in government, we need to know what you would do," Balls questioned.

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"Obviously, those are abhorrent comments," Yusuf replied before pointing out what he deemed to be the ridiculousness of the line of questioning. "You're putting them to me as if I'm here as a spokesperson for Andrew Tate!"

Scrambling, Balls interrupted: "No, no. I'm here for you as a spokesperson of Reform, and I'm asking you what you would do about this. Would you want the social media companies to take this sort of thing down?"

"I think moderation on social media is a really difficult problem, we've known this for years," Yusuf replied. "Ann Widdecombe, during our General Election campaign, was taken off of TikTok for saying a woman is a woman -"

"The thing is, you keep avoiding answering the question," Balls interrupted once more. "The thing is that if Reform wants to be in government, you've got to answer questions. The question is, would you want the social media companies to take action against the influencer Andrew Tate or not?"

Yusuf replied: "I think for the government to be imposing rules on social media around moderation, we've got to be very careful about that, because freedom of speech has been under assault in this country -"

"So the answer is no," Balls interjected. "You are happy for Andrew Tate to say these things online."

As Balls continued to speak, Yusuf reiterated that he thought the comments Balls read out were "abhorrent", adding: "It's the first time I've heard them and I think everyone watching this programme would condemn them. That's absolutely clear."

But Balls wasn't going to stop his grilling over the topic of Tate there, continuing to say Yusuf hadn't answered his questions and expecting a comprehensive plan from the Reform UK chairman about what he would do in direct regard to the influencer.

"I think the government should be doing a lot more to protect free speech, and by the way, everyone watching this programme when they hear those comments flinch. I think, like everyone at Reform thinks, it is better that you let people speak, and you are able to identify people with whom you disagree who are saying abhorrent things," Yusuf chimed back in.

"What has happened historically is freedom of speech has been suppressed, that has created a huge amount of resentment, and going back to our young people in education... this notion that we do what you're suggesting...

"I'm not going to make policy on social media in real time, with respect, but I will say that let's say we ban Andrew Tate, you think somebody else isn't going to pop up and say things like that?"

"I'm now confused," Balls cut in. "You started the answer saying you were going to get rid of it, and now you're saying you're not. I don't know which it is."

"Get rid of what?" a perplexed Yusuf asked, to which Balls replied: "Andrew Tate saying these things on social media. Yes or no."

Yusuf reiterated his stance once again, pointing out that he didn't think the government should be "picking up the phone" to social media companies to ban people from their platforms whom they disagree with. "That is a path to tyranny," Yusuf signed off.

The conversation soon moved on, but Balls' inability to grasp Yusuf's point of view and his grilling of the Reform UK chairman despite his refusal to conjure up policy live on air left plenty to be desired among furious viewers at home.

Reaction to the interview on X, one fan blasted the GMB host for "wasting time" on the issue. "Why is Ed wasting all of this airtime on a cheap gotcha about Andrew bl**dy Tate? Could it be because Reform spanked Labour at local elections last week??" they asked.

"Ed Balls is obsessed with Andrew Tate ffs. #gmb," a second raged, before a third claimed Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary and Balls's wife, hadn't come under such scrutiny by her other half.

They said: "@GMB oh be quiet @edballs, the man has answered everything and all you’ve got is Andrew Tate. What’s your wife doing?? Sweet FA #edballs #GMB."

"Another aggressive and biased grilling from Balls and Singh..." a fourth argued. "They looked like they were chewing wasps..GO ZIA."

Elsewhere, a fifth applauded the Reform UK chairman, adding: "Spot on by Yusuf, and dreadful pearl-clutching questioning by Balls. The more people are banned by the state, the more young men will flock to extremists like Andrew Tate."

Reform UK is promising to use "every power available" to close the UK's migrant hotels.

'Where will those asylum seekers go?'

Ranvir challenges Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf about the Party's plans. pic.twitter.com/amlRGE3hF7

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 5, 2025

And a sixth claimed Labour were doing more damage: "I’d be concerned too about the impact kier and the government are having, with policies, strategies like dare2care/promotion of fictional Adolescence programme... This targeting is not going to have a healthy impact on the mental health of thousands of young children, boys and men!"

Another raged: "Ed balls fascination with Andrew Tate, who is a figure BECAUSE of mad Labour policies and crazy laws... Trying to bog Yusuf down, totally ridiculous!!!"

However, some ITV viewers sided with Balls, taking to social media to accuse Yusuf of failing to answer the questions and provide a concrete strategy for Reform UK's social media policy.

"First time I’ve seen a poor interview from Zia," one critic argued. "Obvious answer is to allow anything that falls within free speech. Tates vile c**p calls for violence against women so actually that falls foul of the law. Any sensible social media company would ban those types of comments."

And a second branded the interview "dire", claiming: "Yusuf indicates literally that Tate's 'freedom to speak' is essentially more important than the societal impact on women and girls." (sic)