Freelance Guardian writer Jack Monroe is suing Katie Hopkins after the Mail Online columnist accused her of sympathising with the vandalisation of a war memorial and then said that she had confused the food blogger with another writer.
Monroe on Monday confirmed issuing proceedings after the controverial columnist accused the blogger of supporting the vandalism of a second world war memorial.
The row, reported on Monday in the Press Gazette, dates back to last May when Twitter erupted after a memorial was daubed with the words “Fuck Tory scum”. Hopkins asked Monroe: “Scrawled on any memorials lately? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for your freedom? Grandma got any more medals?”
The blogger denied the accusation on Twitter.
I have NEVER 'scrawled on a memorial'. Brother in the RAF. Dad was a Para in the Falklands. You're a piece of shit. https://t.co/0IGhgT5BoI
— jack monroe (@MxJackMonroe) May 18, 2015
Monroe initially demanded an apology and £5,000 to a charity supporting migrants.
Dear @KTHopkins, public apology + £5k to migrant rescue & I wont sue. It'll be cheaper for you & v.satisfying for me. pic.twitter.com/EYXfSryNL6
— jack monroe (@MxJackMonroe) May 18, 2015
Hopkins responded by deleting the tweet but not apologising after discovering that the subject of her ire should possibly have been writer Laurie Penny, who has written for the Guardian and New Statesman, for a post in which she offered support for those protesting.
I don't have a problem with this. The bravery of past generations does not oblige us to be cowed today. https://t.co/QS6Oq55n5q
— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) May 9, 2015
Hopkins went on to insult both writers .
Can someone explain to me - in 10 words or less - the difference between irritant @PennyRed and social anthrax @MsJackMonroe
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) May 18, 2015
Monroe, who is understood to be demanding up to £50,000 for the slur, made no further comment after issuing the legal complaint.
Hopkins, who moved from the Sun last year after likening migrants to “cockroaches” and becoming the subject of a petition calling for her to be sacked, had made no public comment on Monday.
