Tabloid column about Meghan Markle was sexist: British watchdog

LONDON –

A column in the Sun tabloid that fantasized about seeing Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, pelted with feces as she was paraded naked through the streets was sexist, the British press watchdog found.

TV personality Jeremy Clarkson’s column in December described how he hated the Duchess of Sussex “on a cellular level”. He said she used “vivid bedroom promises” to turn Harry into a “warrior from wake” and controlled him like a sock puppet.

“The imagery used by the columnist in this article was demeaning and demeaning to the Duchess,” said Edward Faulks, president of the Independent Press Standards Organization. “IPSO’s goal is to protect the public and freedom of expression by maintaining high editorial standards. In this case, The Sun failed to meet those standards.”

The independent organisation, which is voluntarily regulated by most British newspapers, magazines and digital news outlets, found that multiple “pejorative and offensive” references to Meghan’s gender violated its editorial code.

“Stereotypes about women using their sexuality to exert influence…suggested that it was the Duchess’s sexuality – rather than any other characteristic or achievement – ​​that was the source of her power,” the findings said.

The article sparked a record number of complaints to the regulator, which required the paper to notify its readers of the findings released late Friday.

The paper printed a headline “Jeremy Clarkson: IPSO maintains complaint” at the bottom of the front page on Saturday and directed readers to a summary of the report where Clarkson’s column typically appears on page 17. The newspaper had removed the column and apologized in December.

Clarkson, who made his name as a combative presenter of the BBC motoring show “Top Gear” and host of “The Grand Tour” motoring show on Amazon, previously said he was “shocked” at the backlash. He apologized and promised to be more careful.

Clarkson’s daughter was among those who destroyed the motorcade. “I am against everything my father has written about Meghan Markle and I will continue to support those who are the targets of online hate,” Emily Clarkson wrote on Instagram.

Jeremy Clarkson said the image of him dreaming of Meghan being publicly shamed is a “clumsy reference” to a scene in “Game of Thrones”.

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

The press regulator dismissed complaints that the column was inaccurate or harassed Meghan or discriminated against her based on race.

Harry had called the article “horrific, hurtful and cruel” and said the column would encourage misogyny.

Meghan did not formally complain about the report, but did not object to the investigation launched after the Fawcett Society, a gender equality group, and the Wilde Foundation, a charity that supports female victims of abuse, filed complaints.

The Fawcett Society praised the findings, which were the first from IPSO to uphold complaints of sexism.

“This landmark decision is a real opportunity for our media to catch up with what women have known for years – misogyny and hatred are unacceptable and they can no longer be dressed up as satire or banter,” said Jemima Olchawski, CEO of the Fawcett Association.