Rachel Riley urges action on ‘culture of Jew-hate’ after abuse for TV appearance
Countdown host and antisemitism campaigner featured on Family Fortunes, leading to a string of hateful messages online
Tali is a reporter at Jewish News
Rachel Riley has called on Labour to “sort out its culture of Jew-hate” after receiving abuse following her appearance on Family Fortunes.
Riley went on the TV quiz show with her partner, the former Strictly dancer Pasha Kovalev, and the Countdown star’s mother, Celia, to raise funds for the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, a charity that aims to alleviate the suffering of marginalised children.
Riley’s family, up against football presenter Chris Kamara’s family, won £30,000 to help the children’s charity, but on social media she was being attacked for allegedly supporting a party that ‘starves’ kids.
One comment she received said: “Rachel Riley is a nasty woman who smeared Corbyn. She was on Family Fortune last night playing for a children charity… she voted for the Tories who are starving kids.”
This is despite Ms Riley repeatedly, publicly, saying that she doesn’t support the Conservative party and posting on social media that she voted for the former Labour MP Chuka Umunna in the last general election.
Another online commenter said: “Rachel Riley would have donated the family fortunes prize money to the IDF to kill more Palestinian children if ITV allowed political donations.”
On twitter, Ms Riley called on Keir Starmer to take action against bullying from Labour members.
The Countdown presenter said: “If you ever want Labour to become a party that people can vote for again, you need to sort out its culture of Jew-hate, misogyny and bullying, Keir Starmer.
“Extremely proud my family won £30k to help children through the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, and extremely proud to stand up against hate.”
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