Toby Young trolled Greta Thunberg for being ‘privileged’ and the takedowns were swift and brutal

John Plunkett. Updated April 24th, 2019

Toby Young, it would appear, is not a big fan of climate activist Greta Thunberg.

First, he accused the media of failing to hold the the 16-year-old Swede properly to account.

Just saw a clip of Greta Thunberg on the BBC News saying “since no one else is doing anything” it’s fallen to her and her generation to do something. But Western governments are doing something. Maybe not enough, but that’s a different point. When’s someone going to call her out?

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) April 21, 2019

Now he’s gone back on Twitter to tell everyone that Thunberg is nothing less than the ‘privileged’ daughter of a former Swedish Eurovision Song Contest entrant.

Greta Thunberg Is Privileged Daughter of Sweden's Eurovision Star https://t.co/a2T5jpYP01 via @GuidoFawkes

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) April 24, 2019

You’d imagine it wouldn’t have taken long for the Spectator columnist to realise what people would say in response. But, well, it’s Toby Young.

And the takedowns were swift and brutal. Here are our favourites.

Let me get this clear, the Hon Toby Young, son of Baron Young of Darlington is trying to lecture us about privilege. Is this satire?

— DAVID PICKWORTH (@david_pickworth) April 24, 2019

Tobes Tobes Tobes, think it through, son, think it through.
If privilege is a reason not to listen to someone, why would anyone listen to you?
If no one should listen to you, why are you speaking?
Sheesh. No wonder your Dad had to bunk you into uni.

— Frank Cottrell-Boyce (@frankcottrell_b) April 24, 2019

Toby Young was admitted to Oxford University despite failing to make the required grades, after his father, Lord Young, made a discreet phone call to a well-placed friend. You were saying something about privileged children, Toby? https://t.co/jBa8sinYPT

— GeorgeMonbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) April 24, 2019

I was scared when all the scientists said the planet is on fire, but it turns out one child’s parent is rich so we can dismiss everything she says for some reason. That was a close one. https://t.co/sqrEsP4wI9

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 24, 2019

Bold of him to think familial connections should be used as a weapon against people

— Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) April 24, 2019

Thank God you've got to the bottom of this lads. I was worried the activists may have a point about the planet. But now we know one of their mum's was a singer we can rest easy. As you were.

— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) April 24, 2019

Is “she is privileged so we can dismiss what she says” a thread you idiots really want to pull at?

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 24, 2019

Your dad phoned up and got you into Oxford after you failed to get the required grades https://t.co/cjDpb48HBF

— Steve Anglesey (@sanglesey) April 24, 2019

I see Toby Young has convinced himself he’s straight outta Compton. https://t.co/4BvjyqpuM0

— Shappi Khorsandi (@ShappiKhorsandi) April 24, 2019

10.

When these lads find out that David Attenborough grew up on the campus of a university where *his own father* was the principal, there’s going to be carnage.

— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) April 24, 2019

11.

So Toby, what is it about a young, smart, radical, European, female, strike-advocating, climate change activist that right-wing men are mostly shitting their slacks about? https://t.co/Te7dFqCUkm

— Brian Reade (@BrianReade) April 24, 2019

12.

Oh god you desperate little man.

— Dorian Lynskey (@Dorianlynskey) April 24, 2019

13.

Apparently Great Thornberg’s mum having sung in Eurovision is proof of “privilege”. Lads, you couldn’t name any of the last 10 people to represent Britain in Eurovision. Scooch? Are Scooch privilege now? Jesus, this stuff is tiresome.

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) April 24, 2019

To conclude …

Full credit to Toby, it takes huge creativity to keep embarrassing yourself in new and exciting ways. He’s like a jazz improviser tooting atonally on a trumpet made of turds pic.twitter.com/fj2Gmq4DLR

— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) April 24, 2019

Oh, and just in case you were wondering …

This is actually Greta Thunberg's mother. Couldn't make it up.pic.twitter.com/J6OOlic3jh

— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) April 24, 2019