Former James Bond George Lazenby hits back against sexism accusations

George Lazenby has defended himself against accusations of sexism, after he said women have “bloody squeaky voices” and that men now “have to ask permission to speak”.

The former James Bond reportedly told the Daily Star: “It’s no longer a man’s world.

“You just have to look at the newscasts – 75% of the people are women and before it was 10%, so women have taken over.

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“I don’t say that as a bad thing, but it’s different. Men haven’t got the balls they had 50 years ago.

“When I was born my mother had to get permission to speak. And now the men have to.”

His comments were condemned by the Women' Equality Party, who said: “Women still generally earn less than men.

“And women with diverse backgrounds or experiences remain shut out of our media.”

However, speaking to the Daily Mirror, the Australian actor, who played Bond just once in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, has denied that he's a sexist, saying he never took part in an interview with the Daily Star.

“Bond was once described, correctly, as a ‘sexist, misogynist dinosaur’,” he said.

“I may be a dinosaur but it would miss the point to describe me as the other words. I have huge respect and admiration for all genders.

“At a time when we have far to progress on equality, I hope I can be known as The Spy Who Loved #MeToo.”

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He went on: “I was the son of a smart, strong woman who raised me with equality with an independent sister.

“As somewhat of a hippie in the 60s and 70s, I supported and cheered on the female emancipation movement.

“Of course things have changed and so they should.”

Current Bond Daniel Craig is set to return on 2 April in the 25th 007 movie No Time To Die.

It will see him in his last outing in the tuxedo, pitted against Rami Malek's terrorist cell leader Safin.