Jeremy Clarkson’s Meghan Column Slammed as Sexist After Record 25,000 Complaints
Ipso Condemns Clarkson’s ‘Humiliating’ Article
Jeremy Clarkson’s barrage against the Duchess of Sussex has backfired spectacularly. His column in The Sun, which crudely portrayed Meghan being paraded naked through the streets, was ruled sexist by press watchdog Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso). The scandal sparked a record-breaking 25,000 complaints — the highest ever since Ipso began in 2014.
Lord Faulks, Ipso’s chairman, slammed the piece as “humiliating and degrading towards the duchess.”
Harry and Meghan Hit Back at ‘Hate Rhetoric’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accused Clarkson of peddling “hate rhetoric” and spreading “dangerous conspiracy theories and misogyny.” The Sun responded by accepting that free speech carries responsibility. The paper and Clarkson issued an apology in December 2022 and took the article offline, but insisted no editors’ code breach had occurred, blaming the outcry on “taste and judgement.”
Ipso’s probe found otherwise, ruling the article violated the editors’ code because it contained “pejorative and prejudicial” references relating to Meghan’s sex.
Clarkson’s Controversial Comparisons Paint a Dark Picture
In the explosive column, Clarkson didn’t hold back. He admitted he hated Meghan “on a cellular level” and shockingly compared his feelings to his views on former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and serial killer Rose West — all, he claimed, linked by their shared femininity. Ipso cited this as further evidence of sexist bias.
Campaigners Demand Accountability and Change
Ipso weighed complaints from gender equality advocates The Fawcett Society and The Wilde Foundation, which supports abuse survivors. Charlotte Dewar, Ipso’s chief executive, announced the decision would be published openly to ensure transparency.
The Fawcett Society’s chief, Jemima Olchawski, branded Clarkson’s column “vile and offensive” and called for an urgent probe into how such toxic views landed in a major newspaper. Labour MP Harriet Harman, incoming chairwoman of the society, called the ruling “a significant step forward in tackling media sexism.”
Sun’s Apology Rejected by Harry and Meghan
Clarkson himself expressed regret, reaching out to Harry and Meghan over Christmas 2022 to apologise for the “disgraceful” language. The Sun removed the offending piece and issued a formal apology. However, Meghan and Harry’s spokesperson dismissed it as hollow, accusing the paper of profiting from “hate, violence, and misogyny” and demanding a real shift in coverage and ethics.
The Ipso ruling sends a clear message: sexist attacks cloaked as opinion won’t be tolerated, and media giants face tough consequences when they cross the line.
