IPSO received over 25,000 complaints about Jeremy Clarkson’s December 2022 article about Meghan Markle, published in The Sun.Photo: Nick England/Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) has upheld a complaint about sexism surrounding Jeremy Clarkson’s offensive article aboutMeghan Marklein a historic first.
The independent U.K. press regular shared the news in a statement on Friday six months after theTop Gearhost was widely criticized after penning an article forThe Sunabout his “hate” for the Duchess of Sussex, 41, “on a cellular level.” The December 2022 column wassoon removedfrom the outlet’s website and archives. Both The Sun and Clarkson issued apologies, with the paper saying it was “sincerely sorry.”
IPSO received over 25,000 complaints about the piece, which theBBCreports was an all-time high. Two of the grievances from the Fawcett Society (a gender equality and women’s rights charity) and the WILDE Foundation (a group dedicated to helping victims of abuse) were investigated. The organizations learned of the review in February, and the press regulator shared the findings in April, a statement said.The Sunrequested a review of the IPSO decision in May, and the outcome of the evaluation was shared with Fawcett on June 14. Fast-forward to Friday and the media watchdog announced it was upholding the Fawcett Society and WILDE Foundation’s complaints on the basis of sexism.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the National Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty
“The Fawcett Society and WILDE Foundation have made history with our complaints againstThe Sunfor its publication of Jeremy Clarkson’s vile and offensive column about the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. All women are harmed if any woman is the target of sexist reporting and media misogyny is not acceptable,” Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said in a statement. “Since it was established in 2014 IPSO has never upheld a complaint about sexism – and that changes today. This landmark decision is a real opportunity for our media to catch up with what women have known for years – misogyny and hate are not acceptable and they can no longer be dressed up as satire or banter.”
Harriet Harman, incoming Chair of the Fawcett Society, stressed similar sentiments.
“Women are no longer prepared to endure the sexism that generations of women have been subjected to. Fawcett will be vigilant about sexism in the media and challenge it wherever it appears. This is a big step forward for women in the battle against sexism in the media,” Harman said.
Clarkson’s article came amid the release of Meghan andPrince Harry’s Netflix docuseriesHarry & Meghan, in which the couple spoke about their struggles with press intrusion andsocial media threats.
Jeremy Clarkson claimed he apologized to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Christmas Day, though a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex refuted the claim.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty, KIRSTY O’CONNOR/POOL/AFP via Getty
“I think for people to really understand, you know, when you plant a seed that is so hateful, what it can grow into,” the Duchess of Sussex said in an emotional moment of the show.
“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,” she continued. “And they’re like: ‘If you see a tweet like this, please report it to the head of security immediately.’ And it just said: ‘Meghan just needs to die. Someone needs to kill her. Maybe it should be me.’ "
“And I was just like, ‘Okay.’ That’s, like, what’s actually out in the world because of people creating hate,” Meghan said.
In January, Clarkson, 63,claimed he issuedan apology to Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan on Christmas Day, though a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said he only reached out to Harry.
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Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
“When we’re talking about accountability, you know, just recently, which I know you know about, um you know, the Jeremy Clarkson article,” the Duke of Sussex said. “So not only did, what he said was horrific and is hurtful and cruel towards my wife, but it also encourages other people around the U.K. and around the world, men particularly, to go and think that it’s acceptable to treat women that way.”
“You know, to use my stepmother’s words recently as well, there is a global pandemic of violent – violence against women,” Harry added, referencingQueen Camilla’s then-recent speechat Buckingham Palace reception to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.
source: people.com
