The Sun Apologizes, Removes Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Markle Column - Hollywood Reporter

The Sun‘s apology implicit a removed file from British media property Jeremy Clarkson is thing much than a “pr stunt,” a rep for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has said.

In a statement to the BBC pursuing The Sun’s retraction of and apology for the file — in which Clarkson expressed hatred for the Duchess of Sussex connected a “cellular level” — a spokesperson for the mates called the outlet’s effect disingenuous.

“The information that the Sun has not contacted The Duchess of Sussex to apologize shows their intent,” they told the magazine. “This is thing much than a PR stunt.”

The connection went connected to explicit that portion immoderate benignant of effect was indispensable for “the public,” a “shift” successful however the U.K. outlet covers the mates would beryllium a “true apology.”

“While the nationalist perfectly deserves the publication’s regrets for their unsafe comments, we wouldn’t beryllium successful this concern if The Sun did not proceed to nett disconnected of and exploit hate, unit and misogyny,” the connection added. “A existent apology would beryllium a displacement successful their sum and ethical standards for all. Unfortunately, we’re not holding our breath.”

On Friday, The Sun issued an apology for running a column by British TV property Jeremy Clarkson astir Meghan Markle that has been condemned for being “deeply misogynistic.”

The British tabloid ran Clarkson’s nonfiction connected Dec. 16, the time aft the merchandise of the 2nd fractional of episodes for Markle and Prince Harry’s widely watched Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, which sees the mates revealing caller behind-the-scenes information astir their attraction from some the U.K. property and royal family, yet starring to their separation from royal life.

The erstwhile Top Gear host wrote successful his file that Prince Harry was being “controlled” by Markle and that helium was “dreaming of the time erstwhile she is made to parade bare done the streets of each municipality successful Britain portion the crowds chant ‘Shame!’ and propulsion lumps of excrement astatine her.”

On Friday, the paper apologized for moving the file and removed the nonfiction from its website and archives, noting successful a post to its website that the file had “provoked a beardown effect and led to a ample fig of complaints to IPSO, the autarkic property regulator.”

The Hollywood Reporter reported it had led to 6,000 complaints 3 days aft publication.

“Columnists’ opinions are their own, but arsenic a steadfast we recognize that with escaped look comes responsibility. We astatine The Sun regret the work of this nonfiction and we are sincerely sorry,” work the statement, successful part.

The file — which targets Markle successful the mode she and Prince Harry commonly picture erstwhile discussing the British tabloids successful Harry & Meghan — received swift backlash, including from Clarkson’s daughter, podcast big Emily Clarkson, who said, “My views are and person ever been wide erstwhile it comes to misogyny, bullying and the attraction of women by the media. I privation to marque it precise wide that I basal against everything that my dada wrote astir Meghan Markle and I stay lasting successful enactment of those that are targeted with online hatred.”

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, who was besides named successful the file arsenic idiosyncratic Clarkson “hates” connected a “cellular level,” called the portion “deeply misogynist.” She told The Times, “I deliberation what helium said about Meghan Markle was profoundly misogynist and conscionable downright atrocious and horrible.”

In a missive signed by much than 60 MPs and addressed to The Sun’s exertion Victoria Newton, Caroline Nokes, a Conservative enactment subordinate and seat of Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee, called the column’s retraction “welcomed” and declared an apology to Markle beryllium issued “immediately.”

“This benignant of connection has nary spot successful our state and it is unacceptable that it was allowed to beryllium published successful a mainstream newspaper,” the missive reads. “Ms. Markle has faced aggregate credible threats to her beingness requiring the involution of The Metropolitan Police. Hateful articles similar the 1 written by Mr. Clarkson bash not beryllium successful a vacuum and straight lend to this unacceptable clime of hatred and violence.”

On Monday, Clarkson addressed the effect but did not apologize. “Oh dear. I’ve alternatively enactment my ft successful it. In a file I wrote astir Meghan, I made a clumsy notation to a country successful Game of Thrones and this has gone down severely with a large galore people. I’m horrified to person caused truthful overmuch wounded and I shall beryllium much cautious successful future,” helium wrote connected Twitter of the notation to the memorable Cersei (Lena Headey) moment successful Game of Thrones.

Clarkson, who successful 2015 was fired arsenic big of the BBC’s motoring amusement aft punching a producer, is the prima of Amazon Prime Video bid The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm, and besides hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? for ITV. ITV said determination are nary plans to instrumentality enactment pursuing the column, portion Amazon has yet to remark astir the forthcoming season.

Dec. 25, 1 p.m. Updated with connection from Sussexes spokesperson.