Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
loose Women Presenter Charlene White has defended herself against attacks over her denial wear poppy on show,
The 45-year-old TV presenter notably didn’t wear a poppy during last week’s live show ahead of Remembrance Day on November 11, where she was joined by Oti Mabuse, Judy Love and Kel Bryan, who also wore poppies.
The red poppy is commonly worn in the weeks before Remembrance Day to remember war dead and show support for the armed forces. White’s father served in the RAF. last month, She revealed that he died by suicide,
Viewers were furious at the presenter’s decision to abandon Poppy, sharing their anger on social media and some calling for White to be fired. loose Women,
In an emotional post shared to Instagram on Monday night (November 3), White responded to the attacks and explained that her decision was due to fairness rules, and that she wears the poppy off screen.
He posted a black-and-white photo of his father in RAF uniform, writing: “An immigrant from Jamaica, who signed up to join the British armed services when he was just a teenager.
“I posted this because, despite the fact that I’m barely on TV at the moment as I’m still mourning her shocking passing (and live TV is hard for me at the moment), I have again become the target of hatred, vitriol and racism due to my personal decision not to wear a poppy *on air*.”
“I also posted for the first time the support I have received from the Royal British Legion since the beginning @royalbritishlegion When all the abuse first started in 2013.
One of the photos showed a letter addressed to White from the Royal British Legion in 2013 after she was first subjected to abuse for not wearing a poppy. In it the organization wrote that “those who threatened you for not wearing a poppy should be ashamed of their behaviour”.
Watch Apple TV+ for free for 7 days
New customers only. £9.99/month. After the free trial. Plan to automatically renew until canceled.
Advertisement. If you sign up for this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism at The Independent.
Watch Apple TV+ for free for 7 days
New customers only. £9.99/month. After the free trial. Plan to automatically renew until canceled.
Advertisement. If you sign up for this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism at The Independent.
The letter continued, “The Legion understands that people choose to honor those who have given their lives in service in their own personal and private ways.” The Royal British Legion fully supports your decision.
In her own post, White continued: “I support the charity, I donate to its work, I believe in its work, and I wear the poppy off screen.
“But I believe in the fairness rules that exist in broadcasting with respect to charity. You may not agree with me, and I don’t really expect everyone to, but disagreement doesn’t legitimize abuse. This is not what my father, my uncles, my close friends, and millions of others worked for.”
She continued: “And those who incite and fan the flames of hatred and racism, especially when they know full well that I am in the depths of the world navigating the world as a child of parental suicide, should honestly take a moment to think about their actions.”
This isn’t the first time White has had to speak out in defense of his decision. In an article for ITV last year, he once again explained that broadcasting rules meant he was not allowed to show support for charities during presentations.
White said this made him feel “uncomfortable supporting just one charity, The Royal British Legion, above all others”.
She explained that she donates to the British Army every year and wears a poppy on Armistice Day. “Please don’t think I don’t understand the sacrifice made by servicemen and women 100 years ago,” she wrote. “I do.”