Loose Women star accuses Jeremy Clarkson of ‘hate speech’ in fierce Meghan Markle debate
Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards had a fiery exchange while discussing Jeremy Clarkson’s suggestion that Meghan Markle should be ‘paraded naked through the streets’
The Loose Women panel were involved in a fierce clash today over Jeremy Clarkson’s vile Meghan Markle comments.
The former Top Gear host, 62, has been condemned for suggesting the Duchess, 41, should be ‘paraded naked through the streets’, adding he ‘dreamed’ of people throwing ‘lumps of excrement’ at the mum-of-two.
While admitting she was ‘repulsed’ by the comments, Janet Street-Porter, 75, said she didn’t believe Jeremy had broken the law because his remarks didn’t constitute “hate speech”.
Telling the audience we need free speech in the country, she said: “it seems like we’ve moved on to cancelling” saying “two or three hundred years ago there were cartoons of the king with his head down the toilet or with his bits hanging out.”
Janet added the Clarkson’s Farm star had taken the reference of being ‘paraded naked through the streets’ from HBO’s Game of Thrones. During the shocking scene Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, is forced to undertake the ‘walk of atonement’ – naked – for her sins.
But panellist Brenda Edwards said it didn’t make a jot of difference where the reference came from.
Janet Street Porter didn’t think Jeremy’s comments were ‘hate speech’ (
Image:
ITV)
She said Jeremy’s comments absolutely warranted hate speech, saying his suggestion to throw excrement at the Duchess “incited hate.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman, she said. “It’s horrible. All she [Meghan] did was fall in love.”
The star added: “Woe betide someone say that to his [Jeremy’s] daughter.”
Brenda Edwards said Jeremy’s comments ‘incited hate’ (
Image:
ITV)
Jeremy’s daughter Emily, 28, condemned her father’s comments, taking to to social media to ‘make it clear’ she stands in support of ‘those targeted with online hatred, following the disturbing rant.
Addressing her 268,000 Instagram followers, she said: “My views are and have always been clear when it comes to misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media.
They didn’t agree (
Image:
ITV)
“I want to make it very clear that I stand against everything that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I remain standing in support of those that are targeted with online hatred.”
At the end of the Loose Women debate, host Christine Lampard said it was important to “be kind” adding the #bekind movement seemed to have been forgotten about in Jeremy’s comments.
The Grand Tour star made the vile remarks after Harry & Meghan dropped on Netflix.
Meghan Markle was the subject of a vile rant by the former Top Gear host (
Image:
getty)
Jeremy has been condemned for the shocking rant (
Image:
Getty Images)
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The bombshell documentary has ruffled more than a few feathers, but Jeremy sparked a huge outcry after declaring he ‘hated’ Meghan on a “cellular level”.
Apparently livid with the mum-of-two, the presenter shared his fantasy about the Suits star being “paraded naked through the streets” where he “dreams of people throwing lumps of excrement at her”.
The post was slammed by many, including Carol Vorderman, who tweeted: “NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it ok to write this stuff about any woman & absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’ No no no. We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on YOU’.”