Harry and Meghan news – live: Jeremy Clarkson apology over The Sun column accused of misogyny
Former Top Gear host said he was ‘profoundly sorry’ for language in column
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Jeremy Clarkson failed to address his “long-standing pattern” of writing articles that spread “hate rhetoric” when apologising to Meghan for his Sun column, the Sussexes have claimed.
On Monday 17 January, the TV presenter apologised to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over a “disgraceful” piece he wrote about the latter in December last year.
But the couple said Mr Clarkson “wrote solely” to Prince Harry, who was not the subject of his piece. They also rejected his claims to have written the column “in a hurry”.
In the article, the former Top Gear host said he despised the duchess on a “cellular level”, adding that he dreamt of the day she would be made to parade naked through Britain while a crowd chanted “shame” and threw “excrement” at her.
Mr Clarkson, in his apology, said: “I really am sorry. All the way from the balls of my feet to the follicles on my head. This is me putting my hands up. It’s a mea culpa with bells on.”
Sussexes respond to Jeremy Clarkson apology over Sun column
The Sussexes have issued a response to Jeremy Clarkson’s statement of apology for his column in The Sun about Meghan Markle.
Appearing to contest a number of the former Top Gear host’s claims, the statement – reported by Omid Scobie of Yahoo – states: “On December 25, 2022, Mr Clarkson wrote solely to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. The contents of his correspondence were marked Private and Confidential.
“While a new public apology has been issued today by Mr Clarkson, what remains to be addressed is his longstanding pattern of writing articles that spread hate rhetoric, dangerous conspiracy theories and misogyny.
“Unless each of his other pieces were also written “in a hurry”, as he states, it is clear that this is not an isolated incident shared in haste, but rather a series of articles shared in hate.”
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Jeremy Clarkson apology accused of misogyny
Jeremy Clarkson’s apology to Meghan Markle has been accused of misogyny.
The Independent’s Sean O’Grady writes: “Even as [Clarkson] dragged himself out of the mire he made things worse – half-hearted, unserious non-apologies culminating in emails to Prince Harry but not Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The wheels have fallen off for Clarkson, at long last.
“To a cynical eye, Clarkson’s uncharacteristic recent humility stems purely from a desire to hang on to whatever media gigs he has left.”
Read more:
Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘big apology’ for misogyny was full of... misogyny | Sean O’Grady
He’s pushed things too far – and the world has had enough of him
Opinion: Jeremy Clarkson was already handed a second chance. He shouldn’t get a third
Jeremy Clarkson was already handed a second chance. He shouldn’t get a third
Reports suggest that the ex-‘Top Gear’ presenter’s lucrative Amazon deal may be coming to an end after his apalling comments about Meghan Markle. But, writes Louis Chilton, Clarkson has been telling us exactly what sort of person he is for years – why on earth didn’t everyone believe him?
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Prince Harry’s remarks on killing Taliban fighters mean the UK “is in no position to preach” over the execution of a British-Iranian, Tehran has said.
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His death provoked widespread international backlash, with Rishi Sunak branding the killing “cowardly”.
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Prince Harry has described the moment Meghan Markle curtsied for the first time when meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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Prince Harry describes Meghan’s ‘flawless’ curtsy despite seemingly mocking tradition
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