Jameela Jamil calls Piers Morgan ‘bullying parasite’ for sharing private Caroline Flack messages

‘Out of respect for Caroline, I will not allow this conversation to carry on in which she can’t respond or speak for herself,’ writes actor

Olivia Petter
Monday 24 February 2020 04:08 EST
Comments
Love Island pays tribute to Caroline Flack

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jameela Jamil has criticised Piers Morgan for sharing a private exchange between him and Caroline Flack about Jamil.

On Sunday, the Good Morning Britain host shared a screenshot of a direct message Flack allegedly sent to him in October.

It read: “Please have pictures ... I’m struggling with Jameela ... the hate she aims at me.”

The comments are thought to be in reference to criticism Jamil made on Twitter regarding a Channel 4 programme Flack was set to host titled The Surjury, in which people who want plastic surgery pitch their reasons why to a jury.

“Jameela Jamil is having a lot to say about online harassment, so in the interests of balance, here is a message Caroline Flack sent me last October after the same Jameela Jamil led an online pile-on against her regarding a new TV show she was doing,” Morgan tweeted alongside his screenshot of the message.

Jamil replied by clarifying her stance on The Surjury: “I simply said I found the show Surjury (not her) problematic for kids to watch.

“And that Love Island needed some more diversity. Both times Caroline instigated debate with ME even though I was not targeting or blaming her at all. I always just politely explained my point.”

The Good Place star went on to say that she was friendly with Flack, who died earlier this month, and referenced a previous tweet of her own in which she explained the online abuse she had recently faced had “triggered [her] to a near point of death”.

Jamil wrote of Morgan’s comments: “Using a dead woman who I was friends with as a weapon to try to create further harassment for me as I’ve JUST explained publicly that last week I felt suicidal ... is why he is this industry’s most problematic .

“My criticising a *show* did not aim any hate at Caroline.”

The 33-year-old added that out of respect to Flack, she would discontinue the conversation with Morgan.

“I will not allow this conversation to carry on in which she can’t respond or speak for herself,” Jamil tweeted.

“She would be disgusted her personal messages were shared and weaponised against a woman, by a bullying parasite she thought was her friend. I’m out.”

Flack was found dead in her north London home on Saturday 15 February; a lawyer for her family said she had taken her own life.

The 40-year-old presenter had been charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton last year and was due to stand trial. She denied the charge.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in