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Controversial pickup artist Julien Blanc has received another massive put-down with Britain denying the American a visa. Mr Blanc cut short his Australia tour earlier this month after facing a social media backlash.
Australian police argued the 25-year-old actively promoted the abuse of women and his visa was revoked as he departed the country.
Now the UK has got in early by banning Mr Blanc before he could hold any "dating" seminars in London. More than 150,000 people had signed a petition demanding Home Secretary Theresa May refuse Mr Blanc a visa.
"Julien Blanc's presence in the UK could have led to an increase in sexual violence and harassment," Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said on Wednesday.
"I am delighted that Mr Blanc won't be coming to our shores."
The Home Office doesn't comment on individual cases.
But a spokesman noted Ms May had the power to exclude individuals if their presence in the UK was "not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds".
Mr Blanc is an executive coach for Real Social Dynamics which claims to provide "dating advice". RSD's website had been advertising a "bootcamp" to teach the firm's techniques in London from late November.
The decision to deny the Swiss-born American a visa has led to a furious debate in the UK about freedom of speech.
Kate Andrews from the Adam Smith Institute said banning people simply because they expressed offensive views set a dangerous precedent.
Ms Andrews suggests people should boycott Mr Blanc's events and turn off their TVs.
"Debate is better than banning it," she told Sky News.
But others believe the pickup artist's advice amounts to preaching hate against women.
"He offers tips on things like how to get a woman to stop last-minute resistance during sex," Telegraph journalist Radhika Sanghani said.
"These sorts of comments could be interpreted as giving tips on rape and I really think they could incite sexual assault in this country."
Earlier this week Mr Blanc apologised to anyone he'd offended. He said pictures of him choking women were "a horrible attempt at humour and just trying to provoke a shock".
The images were taken out of context, he told CNN.
