To recap, last Friday, the Sun published a horrifying, violent and racist screed written by Jeremy Clarkson. The screed was aimed at the Duchess of Sussex, and Clarkson fantasized in his column about wanting Meghan to be stripped naked and marched through the streets as people fling feces at her. Meghan just exists and thrives and these disgusting old men feel the need to put their violent fantasies about her into print. Following the publication of that misogynistic fantasy in the Sun, Clarkson faced a wave of condemnation in all quarters except for royal quarters. Clarkson, you see, had just been to lunch with Queen Camilla when he wrote his column, and the palace’s silence on the matter spoke volumes about their complicity, if not Camilla’s explicit order to Clarkson. So, what’s new? Well, the Sun finally removed the column yesterday evening, replacing it with Clarkson’s tweet on the matter:
Oh dear. I’ve rather put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a clumsy reference to a scene in Game of Thrones and this has gone down badly with a great many people. I’m horrified to have caused so much hurt and I shall be more careful in future.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) December 19, 2022
This is not an apology or an acknowledgement that writing and publishing violent, racist fantasies about a woman is unacceptable and vile. The Sun seems to be acting as if the removal of the article is the end of the story. It is not. There’s still outrage in the UK and abroad. More than 60 MPs have now written letters to the Sun’s editor – a woman named Victoria Newton – to demand a more formal apology to Meghan and for Clarkson to face serious consequences. Nicola Sturgeon – who was also name-checked in Clarkson’s column – also condemned Clarkson and the column.
So, what will actually be done? Probably next to nothing. Edward Faulks, the conservative minister who chairs Ipso (the Independent Press Standards Organisation), was scheduled to have dinner last night with Rupert Murdoch (owner of the Sun)… but Faulks canceled the dinner when the Guardian called him out. Ipso has received over 12,000 complaints about Clarkson’s column.
IPSO has received more than 12,000 complaints about Jeremy Clarkson’s column on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Read more here: https://t.co/Cu6rZ3gKNa
— Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) (@IpsoNews) December 19, 2022
Following grotesque comments made about the First Minster and The Duchess of Sussex, I do not believe Jeremy Clarkson should be allowed back on our screens. I've written to the Chief Executive of @ITV. pic.twitter.com/oUnc3OvhKQ
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) December 19, 2022
.@NicolaSturgeon condemns Jeremy Clarkson’s “deeply misogynistic, downright awful” comments in a newspaper column regarding Meghan Markle – which also mentions the FM.
She says she “pities” the presenter who is “distorted by hate”.@LBC | @LBCNews pic.twitter.com/qlSUeZ3yqT
— Alan Zycinski (@AlanJZycinski) December 19, 2022
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
CARDIFF, WALES – SEPTEMBER 16: Camilla, Queen Consort arrives at Cardiff Castle with King Charles III on September 16, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. King Charles III is visiting Wales for the first time since ascending the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.,Image: 723280459, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson / Avalon Meghan Duchess of Sussex, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Catherine Princess of Wales, Camilla Queen Consort The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724168053, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Camilla Queen Consort The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724168860, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon
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