- Lloyd Evan is widely condemned for the ‘horrific’ and ‘gross’ column
The Spectator magazine’s theater critic has sparked a backlash after writing about visiting a prostitute after being turned on by a ‘beautiful historian’ giving a lecture.
Lloyd Evans, who also writes sketches for the publication, was widely condemned for the column, which was described as ‘horrific’, ‘gross’ and ‘horrible’.
In the article, he described academic Lea Ypi as having “blonde hair that fell over her shoulders,” saying her appearance took up “much more” of his “attention” than her reflections on politics.
He described in the magazine how he had gone to Downing College, Cambridge, for the lecture by Ms Ypi, an Albanian academic who teaches political theory at the London School of Economics.
But he said that because he had no way to “orchestrate” a meeting with the historian after the lecture, he “went to the rougher part of Cambridge instead.”
Lloyd Evans, who is also a sketch writer for the publication, was widely condemned for the column, described as ‘horrific’, ‘gross’ and ‘horrible’.
Lea Ypi, an academic who teaches political theory at the London School of Economics. In the article, he described Ypi as having “blonde hair that fell past her shoulders,” saying that her appearance took up “much more” of his “attention” than her reflections on politics.
Evans, who has written for The Spectator since the 1980s, then described going to a “prearranged… social rendezvous at a private business location.”
He explained ‘how it works’ – he handed ‘a roll of banknotes to a concierge at a desk, who leads you to a softly lit room where your companion awaits you’.
Evans said he met a woman named Shea, who was “small” and “buxom.” He added that she “looked Chinese.”
She is said to have rubbed “hot wax” on his shoulders before ordering him to “lie on my back while she dimmed the lights and raised an eyebrow suggestively at me.” He then speaks of “negotiations” before describing in detail how he paid for the meeting.
His article, published today, has sparked outrage among commentators and academics.
Ms Ypi herself responded to the article on social media.
She wrote: ‘Advice to scholars: the next time you lecture on Kant and revolutions at ‘Downing’ (Darwin College) Cambridge, make sure your hair is neatly tied up and that you are not blonde.
Ms Ypi responded to the article on social media. She wrote: ‘Advice to scholars: the next time you lecture on Kant and revolutions at ‘Downing’ (Darwin College) Cambridge, make sure your hair is neatly tied up and that you are not blonde. Otherwise, your research impact will be on the Spectatorlibido section
‘Otherwise your research impact will be on the Spectatorlibido component.’
Darwin College, part of the University of Cambridge, where the lecture took place – and not Downing College as Evans claimed – also criticized the piece in a social media post.
It read: ‘Absolutely shocked to see this Lea. Your fascinating, beautifully crafted lecture was a hugely appreciated highlight of the College’s cultural year, and we hope that your memory of the event will not be tarnished by an audience member using it to write something so crude and offensive.”
Other academics also condemned the article, with one calling the piece ‘creepy’ and ‘cringe’ and another saying it was ‘horrible’.
Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley, a historian, added: ‘This is horrifying. I’m very sorry.’
In the column, Evans wrote: ‘Her blond hair falling over her shoulders consumed far more of my attention than her political considerations and I wanted to speak to her afterwards, but I couldn’t organize a meeting.’
The spectator has been contacted for comment.