Dawn French apologises for 'mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict
The popular actress and comedian said she apologised "unreservedly" after posting a video in a "mocking tone".
In the original 40-second clip, the Vicar of Dibley star said: "Complicated, no, but nuanced. But bottom line is no."
Then, using a different tone, she went on: "Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no.
"But we want that land... and we have history... No.
"Those people aren't really even people, are they really? No."
On Saturday afternoon, she issued an apology, saying that in an effort to convey "an important message" she had "clumsily used a mocking tone".
"My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023," she posted on X and Instagram.
She said her intention was to "point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leader on ALL sides of this atrocious war".
French faced criticised after her initial post.
Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she was "saddened" by it.
She said: "This mocking voice 'bad thing' of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears ro [sic] be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack."
Read more from Sky News:
MP Rosie Duffield responded to Oberman's post, saying: "One can, and should hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th.
"It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that."
Some social media users tried to pressure M&S, who French voices adverts for, over the incident.
In October 2023, Hamas led other militant groups in a cross-border attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage.
Since then, Israel has launched a number of large-scale campaigns in the region, including in Gaza where over 54,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.
Many of these are said to be women and children.
Israel claims to be targeting militants and blames collateral deaths on Hamas fighters positioning themselves in densely populated areas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
2 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
UK Tipped to Name Ex-China Diplomat as Deputy Security Adviser
The UK's former ambassador to China, Barbara Woodward, is expected to be named Keir Starmer's new deputy national security adviser, as the prime minister seeks to beef up his foreign policy team. Woodward, who is currently Britain's top diplomat to the United Nations in New York, is set to start her new position later this year, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity about an appointment that hasn't yet been made public. Woodward in June narrowly missed out on becoming the first woman to head Britain's secret intelligence service MI6, having been shortlisted alongside eventual appointee Blaise Metreweli.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man detained by police outside Kneecap court house hearing
A MAN has been detained by police outside the Westminster Magistrates' Court, where Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police had imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court could take place, saying they were needed to 'prevent serious disruption'. A man was detained by police outside the court building because of a placard he was holding following the hearing. The Met said the suspect remains in custody on suspicion of supporting proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action. READ MORE: Kneecap's Mo Chara has Irish translator at second court hearing Surrounded by officers, he told reporters his hand-made sign made no reference to any proscribed organisations, which includes the banned group Palestine Action. Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside the court building in London, as well as in Dublin. It comes as Og O hAnnaidh (below), who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrown out following a hearing on Wednesday morning. (Image: PA) Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. During Wednesday's hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought. Brenda Campbell KC told the court the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on May 21. She said consent was given the following day, but that meant the charge falls outside of the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said permission was not required until the defendant's first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
JK Rowling ‘entitled to speak her view' on trans issues, says Sturgeon
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is 'entitled to speak her view' on trans issues, Nicola Sturgeon has said – but the former Scottish first minister suggested the writer should also be subjected to 'more scrutiny'. Rowling was a vocal critic of the gender recognition reforms championed by Ms Sturgeon, famously donning a T-shirt which branded the then first minister a 'destroyer of women's rights'. Ms Sturgeon said the T-shirt – which Rowling posted a picture of herself wearing on social media – 'brought more abuse on my head than almost anything else'. But she said she had 'never stopped JK Rowling having a view on anything'. Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio Ulster she 'wasn't destroying women's rights', and added: 'Is it really the best way to elevate a debate, put a picture of yourself in a T-shirt with something like that? That is the point I am making.' In a review of Ms Sturgeon's newly published memoir, Rowling accused the former SNP leader of being 'flat-out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and hard facts'. Ms Sturgeon however has made clear her views on the issue have not changed, despite the fury that erupted when Holyrood debated proposals for her government to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by Holyrood but it was blocked by Westminster, with the changes never coming into force. Speaking on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I don't believe – never have and I never will – that you have to choose between being a feminist and being a supporter of the rights of one of the most stigmatised groups in society. 'That's still my position.' While she added the debate on the issue had become 'deeply entrenched', with opposition to the reforms from people such as Rowling, some within the SNP and women's rights groups, Ms Sturgeon was adamant the 'fundamental principle and the issue is one I haven't changed my mind on'. Speaking about Rowling, she told the Nolan Show she is a 'huge admirer of her work'. Ms Sturgeon said: 'I have bought Harry Potter books for all of the kids in my life and I will continue to do so as long as they want to read them. 'I think she is an amazing talent and has done great things.' She added that Rowling is 'absolutely entitled to speak her mind', but added: 'I don't admire the way some people have gone from speaking their minds on this issue to, almost it seems, to be punching down on trans people who have never harmed anybody at any point in their life. 'I am not singling out one person in this, but a cruelty has entered this debate which I find really difficult, because we are talking here about a discriminated against, stigmatised minority. 'In every group in society there will be bad people, but they are not representative of the wider group and with trans we seem to take the bad apples and say 'that makes all trans people bad'. 'I don't agree with that and I don't like that. 'JK Rowling is absolutely entitled to her view, maybe putting herself up for a bit more scrutiny about her view would be helpful, but I don't criticise her for expressing her view. 'But I think I would like to see a bit less punching down on trans people to be perfectly frank.'
