A column in The Sun newspaper by British TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson about Meghan Markle caused a stir in the UK and became the article with the highest number of complaints sent to quality standards managers in the British press. More than 17,500 complaints have been received as of this Tuesday (20/12) according to the regulatory body.
Published on Friday in reaction to the Netflix series ‘Harry & Meghan’, Clarkson’s text was a hateful statement towards the actress and the Duchess. “I hate her. Not like I hate (Scottish First Minister) Nicola Sturgeon, or (serial killer) Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level,” she wrote.
“At night, I can’t sleep lying there gritting my teeth and dreaming of the day she’ll be paraded naked through the streets of every city in the UK as crowds scream ‘Shame on you!’ as she threw pieces of excrement at her, ”the text continued, referring to a scene from the series“ Game of Thrones ”.
The backlash caused the article to be removed from the newspaper’s website.
The piece by Clarkson, who gained worldwide fame as host of the “Top Gear” auto show, also generated political backlash.
More than 60 MPs from rival parties have signed a letter written by Caroline Nokes, chair of the parliamentary committee on women and equal opportunities, addressed to the editor of The Sun newspaper. The initiative strongly criticizes Clarkson’s column, described as “violent”. and “misogynist”, and warns that that editorial line has contributed to a climate of hatred and violence against women.
“Ms Markle has faced a number of credible threats to her life which require the intervention of the Metropolitan Police,” the letter read. “Heinous articles like this one, written by Mr. Clarkson, do not exist in a vacuum and contribute directly to this unacceptable climate of hatred and violence.”
“That’s enough. We cannot allow this type of behavior to continue unchecked”, continues the text, posted on Twitter by Nokes. “We now demand that action be taken against Mr Clarkson and that an unqualified apology be issued immediately to Ms Markle.”
In addition, Scottish MP John Nicolson has written directly to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall urging her to remove Clarkson from broadcasting. She is the host of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, which draws millions of viewers every week and just finished its 38th season.
“I don’t think Mr. Clarkson should appear on our television screens again,” Nicolson wrote. “It would be particularly inappropriate for him to be employed as a presenter by any public service broadcaster.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan are officially known, stepped down from royal duties in March 2020, saying they wanted to build a new life in the United States, away from the abusive harassment of the British media. In the Netflix series, they indicated that Meghan ended up miscarrying due to continued bullying from the British press, and was left with suicidal thoughts, as well as developing paranoia about her safety and that of her children.
Clarkson’s article was a reminder and confirmation of everything they’ve been through since their marriage.
I welcome Jeremy Clarkson’s acknowledgment of causing pain #excuse note– but an editorial process allowed the unchallenged printing of his column pic.twitter.com/pFhdSGn071
—Caroline Nokes MP (@carolinenokes) December 20, 2022
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Source: Terra
Amanda Larkin is a celebrity journalist at Gossipify, known for her in-depth interviews and unique perspectives on the entertainment industry. She covers celebrity news and gossip, providing readers with engaging and informative content, and understanding of the inner workings of the industry. She’s respected for keeping readers up to date with the latest trends and providing a fresh perspective on the celebrity world.
