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The royal family
Original poster

To think the palace should issue a statement condemning Clarkson's comments?

757 replies

Reindeersnooker · 20/12/2022 16:01

I'm all for their dignified silence on everything else. I don't trust Harry or Megan. But Jeremy Clarkson's comments are horrific and were made in Britain against a woman who has become a member of their family.

NOT issuing a statement sends out such a hurtful message and indicates that anything can be said about her, for all they care. Even the MPs have managed to put something on paper.

It's clear that Harry will be beyond hurt if they do nothing and this time he'd have a point, IMO. Each comment like this published in the press erodes the boundaries for online trolls. If I was Meghan, I wouldn't feel I could return to the UK as it's clear the normal rules don't apply to her. What will her children think of Britain when they grow up and become aware of these articles? Won't they be likely to wonder how the palace responded? While it makes no sense to try and placate Harry generally, letting this play out without one word of censure to the press seems needlessly provocative.

It wouldn't be difficult to issue a statement saying something to the effect of "We stand against bullying and hate speech..." Two lines to indicate they see it and it's not ok.

Or not?

OP posts:
StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 09:36

custardbear · 21/12/2022 08:58

He was astonishingly misogynistic in what he said ... but it was off the back of something equally as outrageous that MM and PH have done ... I have no love for any of them they should all grow up and stop using the press for their own gains

Just no. What JC said promotes misogyny against ALL women. It feeds the misogynist's fantasy of it being acceptable to humiliate and be violent towards women when they 'deserve' it. The fact that he said it about a woman who generates extreme hatred in some people is irrelevant.

Virginiaplain · 21/12/2022 09:37

Why are people spreading complaints and whinges to the RF - it is Clarkson and the editor of the Sun. And the way to hit them (and Amazon who shows his farm progs) is to stop buying their stuff and not watch their progs - if he makes no money for anyone they won't employ him - all this bollox about the RF and Camilla - just means Clarksons' reprehensible behaviour gets lost in the media storm and he walks away with a pay rise for the extra clicks.

Blossomtoes · 21/12/2022 09:38

themessygarden · 21/12/2022 09:04

Hopefully, Harry and Meghan are preparing to sue Jeremy Clarkson and the Sun newspaper, which may explain why Harry has not issued a statement in support of his wife nor condemning Jeremy Clarkson.

I am on the fence as to whether the Royal Family should make a statement.

What grounds do they have for suing The Sun? His Game of Thrones reference in connection with Meghan may be deeply distasteful and offensive but he hasn’t said anything defamatory.

Inspecto · 21/12/2022 09:40

Cornettoninja · 21/12/2022 09:21

If the palace permit this then they are responsible for giving the media permission

The palace don’t ‘permit’ anything in reality. Their limited control of the press is a balance of mutual agreement and benefits to both parties outside of legal breeches which are between the accusing party and the media outlet. Outside of that is pure opinion which is open to debate and likely to inflame any debate further which then leaks into areas they have no business influencing.

They absolutely wield a lot of influence but that comes with the responsibility of knowing when to use it. This is, at its foundation, is between JC and MM. Anything else is shouting from the sidelines which isn’t something the RF indulge in and have made this clear over decades.

I would hope that support has been offered privately but that’s not for us to demand knowledge of and would be in the context of already very strained family relations which I would imagine makes things more complicated.

I don’t want to get into to tit for tat, but there’s also being no official comment on PH using footage of Diana’s interview despite PW laying out very clear reasons for not using it. No commenting formally doesn’t mean the RF condone it and it never has.

Silence is consent.

As it stands, the palace have proven the point that Harry and Meghan were making about how she was not being protected like other royals. This shows Meghan will never be protected by the palace. Even people who doubted Harry and Meghan before can see there is some truth to what they were complaining about.

I see no reason why the palace cannot clarify their position that they do not condone Clarkson’s words. Even Clarkson understands there has been a backlash.

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 09:40

Virginiaplain · 21/12/2022 09:37

Why are people spreading complaints and whinges to the RF - it is Clarkson and the editor of the Sun. And the way to hit them (and Amazon who shows his farm progs) is to stop buying their stuff and not watch their progs - if he makes no money for anyone they won't employ him - all this bollox about the RF and Camilla - just means Clarksons' reprehensible behaviour gets lost in the media storm and he walks away with a pay rise for the extra clicks.

Jesus

Off the top of my head , the royals put out statements about Kate's Botox but when this vile thing is written about the kings daughter in law - silence

Roussette · 21/12/2022 09:41

Blossomtoes · 21/12/2022 09:38

What grounds do they have for suing The Sun? His Game of Thrones reference in connection with Meghan may be deeply distasteful and offensive but he hasn’t said anything defamatory.

Show quote history

It wasn't distasteful? Did you read the whole article?

You have a very low bar.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 21/12/2022 09:42

StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 09:36

Just no. What JC said promotes misogyny against ALL women. It feeds the misogynist's fantasy of it being acceptable to humiliate and be violent towards women when they 'deserve' it. The fact that he said it about a woman who generates extreme hatred in some people is irrelevant.

Show quote history

I notice we’re back to blaming women for men’s behaviour again.

BethJ62 · 21/12/2022 09:42

themessygarden · 21/12/2022 09:04

Hopefully, Harry and Meghan are preparing to sue Jeremy Clarkson and the Sun newspaper, which may explain why Harry has not issued a statement in support of his wife nor condemning Jeremy Clarkson.

I am on the fence as to whether the Royal Family should make a statement.

Sue on what grounds ?

Meghan and Garry want to control their own narrative so are perfectly capable of issuing a statement about JC’s comments . No matter what the palace said they wouldn’t be happy .
Or maybe for once in their lives they are keeping a dignified silence.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 21/12/2022 09:42

Sorry, didn’t mean to quote you.

BethJ62 · 21/12/2022 09:42
  • Harry !
Blossomtoes · 21/12/2022 09:43

Roussette · 21/12/2022 09:41

It wasn't distasteful? Did you read the whole article?

You have a very low bar.

Show quote history

Read what I said again.

BethJ62 · 21/12/2022 09:44

@Novella4 if I remember correctly they commented about the Botox because a company was using a photo of Kate to advertise their Botox services .

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 09:46

Shocking !
That's much worse than what Clarkson did !

ancientgran · 21/12/2022 09:47

SinnerBoy · 21/12/2022 08:48

I see that ITV's managing director, Kevin Lygo, has said that Clarkson won't be sacked. He said that Clarkson is "the consummate broadcaster," although he did say that he didn't approve of what he wrote.

Isn't Harry supposed to be doing some sort of promotional piece on ITV for his new book? I've only seen the headline so don't know the details. Perhaps Harry should show his reaction to Kevin Lygo and cancel that.

BethJ62 · 21/12/2022 09:48

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 09:46

Shocking !
That's much worse than what Clarkson did !

It’s illegal

BethJ62 · 21/12/2022 09:51

ancientgran · 21/12/2022 09:47

Isn't Harry supposed to be doing some sort of promotional piece on ITV for his new book? I've only seen the headline so don't know the details. Perhaps Harry should show his reaction to Kevin Lygo and cancel that.

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Yes he is to be talking to his chum Tom Bradby . I can’t see him cancelling as Tom will give him an easier ride than say Andrew Neil .

Samcro · 21/12/2022 09:51

LovelyRachel · 21/12/2022 09:25

People keep referring to Game of Thrones.

Well I've never seen it and nor has many of my friends. So the reference doesn't make sense to us.

So the fact its based on an existing fictional story means absolutely diddly squat sweet fuck all

😁

this
not every one has seen it. so excusing it because of that is daft.

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 09:53

And I was trying to think of the most trivial incident that the royals replied to
There are many more

The royals are a PR construct . That's all they are .
Yet they are silent on this

Cornettoninja · 21/12/2022 09:54

Silence is consent

Yeah, no it’s not and I can think of a fair few scenarios that’s a dangerous mindset to have embedded. Silence is exactly that - any conclusion drawn is entirely your own.

Sue on what grounds ?

I’d be interested in a proper legal answer to this one. Morally I feel there should be some sort of legal recourse but I’m not in a position to know what path it would follow.

Cornettoninja · 21/12/2022 09:56

ancientgran · 21/12/2022 09:47

Isn't Harry supposed to be doing some sort of promotional piece on ITV for his new book? I've only seen the headline so don't know the details. Perhaps Harry should show his reaction to Kevin Lygo and cancel that.

Show quote history

PH is the biggest hypocrite on the planet peddling this bullshit. He’s left his own trail of harm over the years. Doubt he’s going to be ruminating on that in his books/promo tour.

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 09:57

@Cornettoninja

Silence is consent when the power lies with the person keeping silent

That is exactly the position here

The royals should have put out an immediate statement
They didn't

Who is advising them??

Cornettoninja · 21/12/2022 10:00

@Novella4 what power do you think the RF have that’s over and above the events playing out as they already are? They’re hardly about to send JC to the tower. We’re not in the days of ‘off with his head’.

Novella4 · 21/12/2022 10:02

For gods sake !

They can make a statement .
They haven't

They are showing the world that H and M were right

MarshaBradyo · 21/12/2022 10:04

Public opinion will be split. Not everyone will think M&H were right because the RF haven’t made a statement.

imo I can’t believe it’s dragged out this long with more commentators getting involved and at some point people will move on.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/12/2022 10:04

Given the outcry it’s caused I’m not convinced legislation is required when societal pressure is pretty much bang on in maintaining boundaries in this case

Precisely
If anyone was still ignorant of the standards of either Clarkson or the Sun at least that's been removed, and for the rest of us support of either is a useful red flag

Interesting about Harry supposedly trailing his book on ITV though, using a source whose CEO is now clearly seen to support Clarkson. Since it's been suggested that silence/lack of action amounts to appeasement, I wonder if that'll go ahead