Influencers and politicians defend Garron Noone after immigration video backlash

James Cox

Fellow social media influencers and politicians have defended Garron Noone after he deactivated his social media profiles following backlash over a video in which he discussed immigration.

The Mayo man became a TikTok/Instagram sensation with his sketches and catchphrase "follow me, I'm delicious".

Noone normally discusses light topics in his videos.

However, he said he had been asked to discuss immigration by his followers after Conor McGregor's controversial White House meeting with Donald Trump.

“There absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland,” Noone said.

“That doesn’t mean that people feel like we shouldn’t take the refugees that we’re able to take. It doesn’t mean that people feel like people shouldn’t be able to come here for better opportunities.

“The systems that we have in place are being taken advantage of, and that is plain to see, and the Government continually does not allow people to express their concerns about that.

“Along with this, Ireland continues to become one of the richest countries in the world, while most people’s quality of life is going down.”

He added: “Our towns and especially our cities are becoming much less safe. Now that’s not just because of immigration, there’s a lot of factors to that, but if you can’t see that that’s happening, then you have not left your house.

“You increase their distrust in the Government, and you push people towards racism and extremism.

“Now, no doubt, a lot of people in the comments are going to completely misconstrue what I’ve said here, but that’s the internet for you.”

Noone received a lot of criticism over his comments, while others defended him.

In a follow-up video, he said: "If we can’t discuss those things openly, if people are regulated to talking about it in echo chambers and only really hearing about those concerns from more extreme people, that makes everything worse.

“It’s going to make people’s beliefs more extreme, and it fosters things like racism and stuff to get worse and makes us more divided, which I think we have witnessed in other countries.

“I am not anti-immigration. Absolutely crazy to think that.”

Noone has since deactivated his accounts. He had a sizeable following including 1.7 million people on TikTok alone.

While some people are still criticising Noone over the video, fellow social media influencers have defended him online, along with some politicians.

Ireland AM star Eric Roberts shared a photo of himself with Noone on Instagram.

He captioned the post: ""The internet can be a scary place, but this man has only ever made it brighter, funnier and more entertaining for us all."

Former Dancing With The Stars contestant Miriam Mullins, who has 2.2 million TikTok followers, condemned the "bullying" of Noone.

"I'm so appalled. One of my favourite people to watch and follow on TikTok, I literally sit down every evening with my cup of tea and watch Garron Noone.

"He's taking down all his accounts because he's been bullied off the internet.

"People asked him for his opinion, he gave it and somehow people can't take it and go on this witch-hunt.

"You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't. Why are people twisting his narrative? He's not racist.

"Whether you're for or against immigration, it's got nothing to do with race. People need to cop the f*** on."

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said: "It’s sad to see Garron Noone has deactivated his social media accounts. I love his content & he is as decent as he is funny. There is not a racist bone in his body & nor is it racist to talk about immigration. Even if we do so a little clumsily. Hopefully we see him back soon."

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, a Donegal Sinn Féin TD, said: "If you believe that you can build a progressive society with affordable housing and strong public services while just dismissing what Garron Noone said, I am sorry, you are deluded. There’s a battle for hearts and minds. We need to listen and engage with patience and respect."

Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín wrote: "The engine of democracy is the competition of ideas. The best ideas percolate to the top and become policy. The silencing of majority views by a minority is authoritarian & damages that democracy. Garron Noone is a fine comedian & should be allowed speak."

Despite Noone condemning the far-right, a number of prominent far-right accounts on X have re-posted his initial video.

Andrew Tate’s brother Tristan Tate said: “Garron Noone did nothing wrong.”