Stephen Fry said he was portrayed as the “antichrist” yesterday after he was apparently quoted claiming the only reason women slept with men is that “sex is the price they are willing to pay for a relationship”.

The Observer said the “uncharacteristically extreme comments... denote a marked break in tone from a man whose public schtick tends towards inoffensive charm and gently upmarket wit”.

It said the remarks are “likely to be roundly dismissed by those who have embraced the idea of women’s ability to have unemotional, un-committed sex as an empowered lifestyle choice”.

Mr Fry, 53, used his favourite medium, micro-blogging site Twitter, to offer his response, posting: “So some paper misquotes a humorous interview I gave, which itself misquoted me and now I’m the Antichrist. I give up.”

Shortly afterwards, the broadcaster and writer, who has almost two million followers, added the simple message: “Bye bye.”

Mr Fry’s magazine article comments set the Twittersphere alight.

Danny Mercer wrote: “I love Stephen Fry but what comments to make. I’m willing to accept he was misquoted but ... how badly can you be misquoted?! Daft.”