Katie Hopkins to leave LBC ‘immediately’ in wake of ‘final solution’ tweet
Daily Mail columnist parted company with the broadcaster in the same week she was criticised for appearing to reference the Nazi Holocaust
Controversial broadcaster Katie Hopkins and LBC have agreed that she will leave the radio station “immediately”, LBC has said.
They have parted company in the same week that she called for a “final solution” following the Manchester attack, which saw 22 people killed and dozens injured after a suicide bomber detonated a device as concert-goers left the Manchester Arena on Monday night.
Hopkins hosted a weekly show every Sunday on the station.
An LBC spokesman said: “LBC and Katie Hopkins have agreed that Katie will leave LBC effective immediately.”
Hopkins, a former Apprentice contestant and now a columnist and broadcaster, caused outrage earlier this week with a tweet that appeared to reference the term used by the Nazis for the Holocaust.
The now-deleted tweet, made in the hours after the explosion, read: “22 dead – number rising. Schofield. Don’t you even dare. Do not be a part of the problem. We need a final solution #Machester (sic).”
Complaints were made to the Metropolitan Police about Hopkins’ tweet.
A spokesman for the Met said on Tuesday: “We can confirm that a complaint has been received by the Metropolitan Police Service on Tuesday, 23 May in relation to a tweet published on the same day.
“As is routine, the allegation will be reviewed and assessed by specialist officers. The police have been contacted for an update.”
Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said:
“Katie Hopkins’ comment on Twitter yesterday about “a final solution” – a clear invoking of Holocaust language – was hugely offensive. This really is a new low, particularly at such a fragile time.”
Following her comment Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s Chief Executive Olivia Marks-Woldman criticised her “offensive and divisive language”.
She said: “‘We are aware that a recent tweet has been reported to the police.. The use of the phrase ‘final solution’ is entirely inappropriate and irresponsible.”
“We all have a responsibility to learn lessons from the past, and create a safer, better future. This includes ensuring that we speak and behave responsibly today.”
“The words that we see and hear all around us today.. all have an impact upon us and those around us. It is important that we use our words responsibly.”
Hopkins is currently employed by the MailOnline as a columnist.
The 42-year-old is known for being an outspoken commentator on far-ranging topics from terrorism and Islam, to children’s names and obesity.
She has also appeared on reality TV programmes I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother, as well as fronting her own programmes on TLC entitled If Katie Hopkins Ruled the World and My Fat Story.
Following LBC’s announcement, Hopkins has posted on Twitter but has not referenced her departure.
Hopkins, an avid tweeter, has said she is writing a MailOnline column about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
After removing her initial tweet, Hopkins posted an amended version.
She wrote: “22 dead – number rising. Schofield. Don’t you even dare. Do not be part of the problem. We need a true solution.”
Hopkins added in another post: “typo / wording amended”.
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