RTÉ HAS CONFIRMED it received twenty complaints relating to the appearance of Katie Hopkins on last Friday’s Late Late Show in the wake of the broadcast.
1,664 emails criticising the decision to book the controversial TV personality were received before Friday night, after a social media campaign was organised to protest the State broadcaster’s decision.
Those who sent in emails before the broadcast received responses from RTÉ saying that their emails couldn’t be regarded as complaints as they did not yet refer “to a broadcast which has taken place”.
A spokesperson for RTÉ confirmed that only complaints submitted after a broadcast are counted as formal complaints. Just twenty such complaints relating to Hopkins’ appearance were received.
Right-wing
Hopkins is known for her controversial views on issues surrounding class, race and gender. She was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the US, as well as Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
Last month, the Council of Europe branded an infamous article by Hopkins as hate speech. In the piece, which was entitled “Rescue boats? I’d use gunships to stop migrants”, Hopkins referred to would-be refugees as “cockroaches”.
Much of the controversy surrounding her appearance on the Late Late centred on whether the national broadcaster should give her a platform to share her views.
Last Friday’s show opened with Hopkins and journalist Colette Browne discussing the US election result.
Hopkins celebrated Trump’s victory, and also took aim at the media coverage of the election. When asked about the prospect of the National Front’s Marine le Pen becoming French president following next year’s election, Hopkins said “the rise of the right is a fantastic thing”.
She also called herself a “proud Brexiteer” and thanked Americans who had voted for Donald Trump, closed by saying his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again”.
The RTÉ spokesperson said that the broadcaster would respond to the complaints received since the broadcast “in due course”. According to its website, all complaints received will be responded to within 20 working days.
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