Jeremy Clarkson’s column on Meghan draws a wave of criticism

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LONDON (AP) British TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson said on Monday he was horrified to have caused so much harm with a scathing column about Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, which has sparked a flood of complaints.

Clarkson, who hosts car show The Grand Tour on Amazon, wrote in tabloid The Sun that he hated former Meghan Markle on a cellular level and dreamed of her parading naked through British cities as crowds chanted Shame ! and throw pieces of excrement at him.

Media watchdog the Independent Press Standards Organization said it received more than 12,000 complaints about the column on Monday, nearly the total number of complaints it received in 2021.

The column was removed from the Suns’ website on Monday.

Clarkson, who made a name for himself as the combative host of the BBC’s Top Gear car show, said the public-shaming image was a clumsy reference to a scene from Game of Thrones.

I am horrified to have done so much harm and will be more careful in the future, he wrote on Twitter.

Clarksons’ column followed the release of a six-part Netflix documentary about Harry and Meghan’s acrimonious split from the British royal family. The couple quit royal duties and moved to California in 2020, citing a lack of palace support and racist press treatment of Meghan, who is biracial.

Clarksons’ column has been condemned by public figures, including Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who called it deeply misogynistic and downright horrible and awful.

Clarksons daughter Emily Clarkson posted on Instagram that I oppose everything my dad has written about Meghan Markle and continue to support those targeted by online hate.

Asked about the article, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that for everyone in public life, language matters. He added that I absolutely do not believe that Britain is a racist country.

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