Celebrity TV presenter Alison Hammond has sparked backlash from fans with her comments about Meghan Markle on his show.
The TV presenter suggested the backlash the Duchess of Sussex is facing is rooted in “racism” and “misogyny”.
Viewers were left divided after the debate unfolded This morning following fresh comments from the Duchess of Sussex, who recently claimed she had been “bullied and attacked” online for a decade and described herself as “the most trolled person in the world”.
During the segment, Hammond introduced a clip of Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, expressing her anger at online abuse against her and warning that social media platforms are “entrenched and based on cruelty to get clicks”.
The presenter then turned to journalist Bryony Gordon and stated: “Imagine being the most trolled person in the world. What that must do to you mentally.”
Gordon, who has previously expressed support for the Duchess, claimed she had experienced trolling herself “by proxy”.
Recalling her own interactions with Archie and Lilibet’s mother, Gordon said she bore “no resemblance” to the “villain” portrayed online, arguing that the hostility said more about modern culture than the individual at its center.
“There’s this sort of level of vitriol leveling off, especially with Meghan,” she said, adding that while not everyone has to like public figures, “we don’t have to take abuse”.
Hammond went on to question the extent of the backlash aimed at the former Labor Roal, asking: “At the end of the day, what has she ever done, really and truly? What, has she murdered anyone? No. She’s done nothing, really.”
She also described it as “sad” that Ordon was subjected to abuse simply to support the Duchess.
The conversation took a more pointed turn when co-presenter Dermot O’Leary asked the panel why they thought the mother-of-two attracts such intense croticism.
Hammond seemed to agree with Gordon’s assessment, nodding as she said, “Racism.”
She continued: “You know what? You’ve got to call it out when it’s there. Don’t be stupid. It’s racism. It’s misogyny. It’s all, all of the above.
The comments quickly sparked a backlash online, with viewers taking to X to voice their opinion on Hammond’s comments, with one user writing: “Being called out for bad behavior is not bullying, nor is it racist.”
Another added: “Apparently you can’t be critical of a woman or it’s ‘misogynistic’… well it’s not, you’re just wrong.”
Others questioned whether the backlash was connected to her actions rather than her identity.
“Could it be that it’s not because of sexism, racism, but just because some people just don’t like her?” a post read.
But Meghan’s fans hit back: “Never really understood why she gets so much abuse. I like her and Harry.”
While another suggested critics would soon “go back to their usual national sport of bashing her again”.
