British broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson is dealing with critical backlash for a column he penned about his hatred for Meghan Markle — with hundreds of readers, a number of political figures and his even personal daughter declaring he went too far.
“I hate her. Not like I hate [Scottish First Minister] Nicola Sturgeon or [English serial killer’ Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level,” Clarkson wrote in a column on The Sun, published on Friday, December 16, about Meghan and Prince Harry’s six-part doucseries, Harry & Meghan.
In another section of the since-deleted article, Clarkson — who is known for hosting ITV’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Top Gear — referenced a famous scene from Game of Thrones, writing, “At night, I’m unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant, ‘Shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her.”
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have yet to publicly comment on Clarkson’s comments, the couple were beyond candid about the British media in Harry & Meghan.
“My dad said to me, ‘Darling boy, you can’t take on the media. The media will always be the media.’ I said, ‘I disagree.’ I have 30 years’ experience of looking behind the curtain and seeing how this system works and how it runs,” Harry said during episode 4, recalling a conversation with his father, King Charles III. “I mean, just constant briefings about other members of the family, about favors, inviting the press in. It’s a dirty game. You know, there’s leaking, but there’s also planting of stories.”
During the same episode, Meghan cited the way her private New York City baby shower was reported on in the U.K. as an example. “It was so wrong. These independent, strong, successful women choose to use their own money, and it’s not taxpayer money, to throw a party for their friend from a place of love. Why are you taking such a beautiful moment and trying to ruin it?” she asked.
The twosome also called out racist remarks made about Meghan during her time working for Queen Elizabeth II alongside Harry. (The twosome announced their decision to step back from their roles as senior roles in January 2020 and their exit was made permanent by early 2021.)
“At that time, I wasn’t thinking about how race played a part in any of this. I genuinely didn’t think about it,” Meghan said on episode 2 before recalling the “Harry’s new girl is (almost) straight outta Compton” headline. “Firstly, I’m not from Compton, I’ve never lived in Compton, so it’s factually incorrect,” she said. “But why do you have to make a dig at Compton?”
The former Suits star — who shares son Archie and daughter Lilibet with Harry — went on to get visibly emotional while talking about the hate that she’s experienced via social media.
“I think for people to really understand, you know, when you plant a seed that is so hateful, what it can grow into. I mean, just a couple of days ago, I was going through the manual for our security team at home, and on one of the pages that I happened to flip to, it was about online monitoring, and they’re like, ‘If you see a tweet like this, please report it to the head of security immediately.’ It just said, ‘Meghan just needs to die. Someone needs to kill her. Maybe it should be me,’” the duchess explained during episode 5. “I’m a mom. That’s my real life. And that’s the piece when you see it and you go, ‘You are making people want to kill me.’ … It’s not just some story. You are making me scared. … Looking down my hallway, like, ‘Are we safe? Are the doors locked? Is security on?’ That’s real. ‘Are my babies safe?’”
Clarkson, meanwhile, hasn’t apologized to Meghan, but tweeted on Monday, December 19, that he was “horrified” that his Game of Thrones reference “caused so much hurt.” The Sun has also deleted his story, adding a message that reads: “In light of Jeremy Clarkson’s tweet he has asked us to take last week’s column down.”
Scroll through for more on the controversy:
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‘Top Gear’ Host Jeremy Clarkson’s Controversial Comments About Meghan Markle Explained: What to Know
British broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson is facing serious backlash for a column he penned about his hatred for Meghan Markle — with thousands of readers, several political figures and his even own daughter declaring he went too far.
“I hate her. Not like I hate [Scottish First Minister] Nicola Sturgeon or [English serial killer’ Rose West. I hate her on a mobile stage,” Clarkson wrote in a column on The Solar, printed on Friday, December 16, about Meghan and Prince Harry’s six-part doucseries, Harry & Meghan.
In one other part of the since-deleted article, Clarkson — who is thought for internet hosting ITV’s Who Needs to Be a Millionaire? and Prime Gear — referenced a well-known scene from Sport of Thrones, writing, “At evening, I am unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my enamel and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade bare via the streets of each city in Britain whereas the crowds chant, ‘Disgrace!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her.”
Whereas the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have but to publicly touch upon Clarkson’s feedback, the couple have been past candid in regards to the British media in Harry & Meghan.
“My dad stated to me, ‘Darling boy, you may’t tackle the media. The media will at all times be the media.’ I stated, ‘I disagree.’ I’ve 30 years’ expertise of trying backstage and seeing how this method works and the way it runs,” Harry stated throughout episode 4, recalling a dialog together with his father, King Charles III. “I imply, simply fixed briefings about different family members, about favors, inviting the press in. It is a soiled sport. You recognize, there’s leaking, however there’s additionally planting of tales.”
Throughout the identical episode, Meghan cited the best way her non-public New York Metropolis child bathe was reported on within the U.Okay. for instance. “It was so flawed. These unbiased, robust, profitable ladies select to make use of their very own cash, and it is not taxpayer cash, to throw a celebration for his or her buddy from a spot of affection. Why are you taking such a lovely second and making an attempt to wreck it?” she requested.
The twosome additionally known as out racist remarks made about Meghan throughout her time working for Queen Elizabeth II alongside Harry. (The twosome introduced their determination to step again from their roles as senior roles in January 2020 and their exit was made everlasting by early 2021.)
“At the moment, I wasn’t enthusiastic about how race performed a component in any of this. I genuinely didn’t give it some thought,” Meghan stated on episode 2 earlier than recalling the “Harry’s new lady is (nearly) straight outta Compton” headline. “Firstly, I’m not from Compton, I’ve by no means lived in Compton, so it’s factually incorrect,” she stated. “However why do you need to make a dig at Compton?”
The previous Fits star — who shares son Archie and daughter Lilibet with Harry — went on to get visibly emotional whereas speaking in regards to the hate that she’s skilled by way of social media.
“I believe for folks to essentially perceive, you recognize, if you plant a seed that’s so hateful, what it may develop into. I imply, simply a few days in the past, I used to be going via the handbook for our safety staff at dwelling, and on one of many pages that I occurred to flip to, it was about on-line monitoring, and so they’re like, ‘In the event you see a tweet like this, please report it to the top of safety instantly.’ It simply stated, ‘Meghan simply must die. Somebody must kill her. Possibly it must be me,’” the duchess defined throughout episode 5. “I am a mother. That is my actual life. And that is the piece if you see it and also you go, ‘You’re making folks wish to kill me.’ … It isn’t just a few story. You’re making me scared. … Wanting down my hallway, like, ‘Are we protected? Are the doorways locked? Is safety on?’ That is actual. ‘Are my infants protected?’”
Clarkson, in the meantime, hasn’t apologized to Meghan, however tweeted on Monday, December 19, that he was “horrified” that his Sport of Thrones reference “brought on a lot harm.” The Solar has additionally deleted his story, including a message that reads: “In mild of Jeremy Clarkson’s tweet he has requested us to take final week’s column down.”
Scroll via for extra on the controversy:
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What Did Jeremy Clarkson Write About Meghan Markle?
Clarkson referenced a season 5 episode of Sport of Thrones, by which Cersei (Lena Headey) was pressured to do a nude “Stroll of Atonement.”
“At evening, I am unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my enamel and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade bare via the streets of each city in Britain whereas the crowds chant, ‘Disgrace!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her,” Clarkson wrote in his column for The Solar, claiming that everybody who’s my age thinks the identical method” about Meghan.
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The Backlash
BBC stories that greater than 12,000 complaints have been filed to Ipso, the unbiased press requirements group over Clarkson’s phrases. By comparability, a complete of 14,355 complaints have been filed in all of 2021.
Sturgeon, who was referenced within the story as nicely, known as Clarkson’s feedback “downright terrible and horrible,” telling The Occasions: “My overwhelming emotion about guys like Jeremy Clarkson is pity. I imply, what’s it that makes someone so distorted by hate that they find yourself writing this stuff? I believe that probably offers an perception into Jeremy Clarkson and the type of particular person he’s. So perhaps he simply must take a step again from issues and simply take into consideration life a bit extra.”
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan additionally weighed in, tweeting, “As Jeremy Clarkson ought to nicely know – phrases have penalties. The phrases in his piece are not any joke – they’re harmful and inexcusable. We’re in an epidemic of violence towards ladies and women and males with highly effective voices should do higher than this.”
John Nicolson, a Scottish journalist SNP Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire, has known as for Clarkson to be taken off the air, declaring, “I’ve persistently defended freedom of the press. Nonetheless, this has crossed a line.”
Credit score: Courtesy of Emily Clarkson/Instagram
What Did Jeremy Clarkson Say About His Meghan Markle Story?
Clarkson’s daughter Emily slammed her father’s remarks on Sunday, December 18.
“My views are and have at all times been clear in terms of misogyny, bullying and the therapy of ladies by the media,” the podcast host wrote by way of Instagram Tales. “I wish to make it very clear that I stand towards the whole lot that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I stay standing in assist of these which might be focused with on-line hatred.”
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How Is Queen Consort Camilla Related With Jeremy Clarkson?
The palace has but to touch upon Harry & Meghan — or Clarkson’s feedback. Charles’ spouse, nonetheless, is being dragged into the mess as Clarkson was a visitor at a lunch hosted by the queen consort simply days earlier than his column dropped. The twosome additionally reportedly crossed paths at a lunch attended by Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Piers Morgan this month.
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How Did Jeremy Clarkson Tackle His Meghan Markle Controversy?
“Oh expensive. I’ve slightly put my foot in it. In a column I wrote about Meghan, I made a slipshod reference to a scene in Sport of Thrones and this has gone down badly with an amazing many individuals,” he tweeted on December 19. “I’m horrified to have brought on a lot harm and I shall be extra cautious in future.”
