- Jeremy Clarkson’s column on Meghan Markle has become the most criticized article in the history of The Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO).
- Clarkson said in her column: “At night, I can’t sleep as I lie there, gnashing my teeth and dreaming of the day she’s forced to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain as the crowds chant: ‘ Shame!’ and throw piles of excrement at it.”
- IPSO has received more than 17,500 complaints so far about the column.
a sun diary column by British TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson about Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, has become the press standards watchdog’s most reported article, it said on Tuesday, with more than 17,500 complaints received.
In a column published Friday, Clarkson, who gained worldwide fame as the host of the motoring show top teamwrote of Meghan: “I hate her. Not like I hate (Scottish Prime Minister) Nicola Sturgeon or (serial killer) Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level.”
He said: “At night, I can’t sleep as I lie there, gnashing my teeth and dreaming of the day she’s forced to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain as the crowds yell, ‘Shame on me! !’ and throw piles of excrement at it.”
Clarkson said Monday that he was “appalled that I had caused so much damage.” The article has now been removed from the Sun’s website.
READ MORE | Jeremy Clarkson responds to backlash over Meghan Markle’s column: ‘I’d rather put my foot in it’
The Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO) said it had received more than 17,500 complaints so far, the most about any article since it was established in 2014.
More than 60 lawmakers signed a letter written by Caroline Nokes, chairwoman of parliament’s Select Committee on Women and Equality, to the editor of the Sun warning that such articles contribute to a climate of hate and violence against women.
“Enough is enough. We cannot allow this type of behavior to go unchecked,” said the letter, which Nokes posted on Twitter. “We now demand that action be taken against Mr. Clarkson and an unreserved apology be issued to Ms. Markle immediately.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan are officially known, stepped down from their royal duties in March 2020 and said they wanted to carve out a new life in the United States away from media harassment.
In a Netflix documentary series that concluded last week, Meghan opened up about how her treatment by the media had left her feeling suicidal and said she was worried if she and her children were safe.
