Justice Minister Naomi Long Accepts Apology After Husband Targeted In Homophobic Abuse Row

Justice Minister Naomi Long Accepts Apology After Husband Targeted In Homophobic Abuse Row

Justice Minister Naomi Long and her husband have accepted an apology after he was subjected to homophobic abuse online, bringing an end to a row that had drawn widespread criticism.

The incident began when Belfast Alliance councillor Michael Long was targeted by offensive comments from a social media account linked to Pastor Bobi Brown of Bloomfield Avenue Congregational Church. The remarks sparked immediate backlash, particularly given the account’s association with a church figure.

At the time, Justice Minister Naomi Long described the comments aimed at her husband as a “new low”, expressing shock that such language could come from someone connected to a religious role. The abuse had been posted in response to a routine update from Michael Long about local work for constituents.

Michael Long said he had become largely accustomed to online abuse but highlighted concern over the source of the comments. He noted the account was linked to a pastor and questioned how such language could be used in that context, adding that he could not confirm who had personally written the post.

Justice Minister Naomi Long also addressed the incident publicly, saying she regularly faces abuse online but that the targeting of her husband with homophobic slurs marked a significant escalation. She said she was particularly struck by the nature of the language and its source.

However, the situation shifted on Sunday when the Brown family contacted the couple directly.

Posting on X, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the family had offered a “sincere and genuine apology”, which both she and her husband have now accepted. She added that the moment highlighted the need for greater respect in public discourse, both online and offline.

“We need to be more gracious with each other,” she said, acknowledging the apology and bringing the issue to a close.

The incident has also reignited wider discussion around the scale of online abuse faced by politicians, particularly women and those in public life. Justice Minister Naomi Long has previously spoken about the impact of misogynistic and threatening messages, calling on social media platforms to take stronger action.

Political figures also responded to the controversy, with Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows stating that such abuse is “totally unacceptable”.

While the apology has now been accepted, the episode once again highlights the increasingly hostile environment on social media, where routine public updates can quickly escalate into personal attacks.