Carol Vorderman has revealed she faced abuse after tearing Jeremy Clarkson to shreds for his "hateful" comments about Meghan Markle in a column for The Sun. The Welsh presenter has dubbed the opposition she's faced as "The Clarkson Effect" adding: "I've received a lot of abuse obvs, but it's like watching the last death throes of a dinosaur age."
In the article, which has since been removed from the publication's website, the former Top Gear host wrote of the Duchess of Sussex, who has recently released a 'tell-all' documentary on Netflix with her husband the Duke of Sussex: "I hate her. Not like I hate Nicola Sturgeon or Rose West. I hate her on a cellular level," before adding that he wanted to make her "parade naked through the streets". He has since said he was “horrified to have caused so much hurt” with his comments.
Carol has now published a letter from MP John Nicolson that he sent to the chief executive of ITV, Dame Carolyn McCall, imploring that Clarkson should "never appear on our television screens again", deeming it "inappropriate" for him to be given the role of presenter by any public service broadcaster.
Read More: Jeremy Clarkson's daughter publicly slates her dad after shocking Meghan Markle attack
Carol wrote in line with this letter: "The Clarkson Effect. I've received a lot of abuse obvs, but it's like watching the last death throes of a dinosaur age. Sad souls who are angry at new thought, at equality, at kindness. BUT this chapter has also brought the calm, normally silent, people together. We fight on."
Fans of the former Countdown star flooded her comments, standing in solidarity with the 61-year-old's message. One user wrote: "I really hope so. It’s so depressing watching 20 years of progress being turned back this past few years…." while another added: "Proud of you Carol for your public stance - the Sun article breached Editors' code and requires redress through the Independent Press Standards Org. More than 12,000 complaints received is an endorsement of your opinion. #NoToHate #NoToDiscrimination #BeKindAlways"
These tweets follow on from Carol's initial response to the article which said: "NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it ok to write this stuff about any woman & absolutely NO to "everyone who's my age thinks the same" No no no. We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting 'shame on YOU'"
She has also praised Clarkson's daughter, Em Clarkson, for standing against her father's words. The 28-year-old wrote: "My views are and have always been clear when it comes to misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media. I want to make it very clear that I stand against everything that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I remain standing in supoport of those that are targeted with online hatred."
Carol screenshotted her story and included it in a post on her own Instagram message on the subject, writing: "JEREMY CLARKSON and his voice of hatred talking of demeaning any woman in the way he describes. This normalises abuse. Shame on you. There is only one rule to live by, to thank your lucky stars you are alive and well, and it's this DO. NO. HARM. That's it.
"The only good thing about the last two days is that now the kind people also have a platform to call it out . When I was growing up, there was no right of reply. Now there is.
"And Jeremy's wonderful daughter @em_clarkson, who has herself badly suffered from online abuse in the past, has spoken out and said "I stand against everything that my Dad wrote about Meghan Markle." Good for you Em. I have such faith in the younger generation. Good for them to have grown the freedoms they have.....protecting others and wanting goodness in life. Don't change. Be more of what you are. With love from my generation to yours. Aunty Carol age 61 and 11/12ths"
READ NEXT:
- John Barrowman 'devastated' after cancelling 2023 tour over 'slow' ticket sales
- Gogglebox fans react as two stars quit the Channel 4 series
- Amanda Holden shares her boozy Christmas Day tradition
- Catherine Zeta Jones says she 'loves' another man and husband Michael Douglas is fine with it
- The celebrities who you can see in Wales in 2023
