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Duchess Meghan, Prince Harry (here in June 2022 in London):
Photo: Matt Dunham/AP
On behalf of the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, a spokesman for the couple has denied an apology from The Sun tabloid for a hateful column.
The paper previously published an opinion piece from TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who wrote that he hates Meghan and dreams of her being herded through the streets of England and having feces thrown at her.
As the British "Daily Mirror" and a reporter from the "Huffington Post" report, the spokesman for the Sussexes said the apology from the "Sun" was a PR ploy.
The fact that the "Sun" did not contact the Duchess personally shows that, is quoted from the Sussex statement.
And: "This situation would not have arisen in the first place if the "Sun" did not continue to profit from violence and hatred of women and exploit this".
The Sun article had sparked a record number of complaints to the UK Press Council.
In a column published last week, Clarkson - who rose to worldwide fame as the host of the Top Gear auto show - wrote of Meghan: "I can't sleep at night, lie there, grind my teeth and dream of the day she have to walk the streets of every town in Britain naked while the crowd shouts 'Shame!' and throws excrement at them.«
The paper said a few days later: "We at The Sun regret the publication of this article and we are truly sorry."
The text has been removed from their website and archives.
As a publisher, we recognize that freedom of expression also comes with responsibility.
The Sussexes don't accept that.
"A change in their reporting and their ethical standards would be a genuine apology," the couple's rep said.
"Unfortunately, we don't believe in it."
Britain's regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organization (IPSO), said Tuesday it had received more than 17,500 complaints, the most about an article since it was founded in 2014.
The Chair of Parliament's Special Committee on Women and Equality, Caroline Nokes, wrote a letter to the editors of The Sun, which more than 60 MPs signed.
It warns that such articles contribute to a climate of hatred and violence against women.
In a statement posted to Twitter on Monday, Clarkson said he was "appalled to have caused so much damage" and would "be more careful going forward."
However, critics doubt whether Clarkson, who is known as a provocateur, is really serious about it.
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