LBC breaks ties with Katie Hopkins following controversial ‘final solution’ comments
Global-owned LBC has fired controversial radio host Katie Hopkins with immediate effect after comments she made following the Manchester terror attack sparked outrage on social media.
Katie Hopkins fired from LBC
LBC announced her departure with a tweet made on Friday (26 May) morning:
LBC and Katie Hopkins have agreed that Katie will leave LBC effective immediately.
— LBC (@LBC) May 26, 2017
On Tuesday (23 May) Hopkins posted arguably one of her most controversial tweets to date in the wake of the Manchester terror attack, in which she called for a “final solution” to end terrorism in the UK.
The tweet, which forms part of Hopkins’ longer anti-Muslim tirade, appeared to evoke the Nazi term for the Holocaust and imply that there should be an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Muslims.
"22 dead - number rising," she wrote on 23 May. "Schofield. Don't you even dare. Do not be a part of the problem. We need a final solution #Machester."
The tweet, which was quickly deleted and replaced with the term “true solution” was reported to the Metropolitan police and sparked a cry from social media users for her to be fired from LBC, as well as calls to boycott the wider Global radio group.
Hopkins claimed the use of “final” was a typo. The Metropolitan police said the tweet will be "reviewed and assessed by specialist officers". The results of the review are not yet known.
News of her termination at LBC has been met with mixed reactions on Twitter, as some members of the public claim the move is an "attack on free speech".
We stood against hatred, and, this time, we won. ✊ https://t.co/KQUpDhUCCz — Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) May 26, 2017
@LBC Good riddance to toxic waste.
— Tom [PositiveLad] (@PositiveLad) May 26, 2017
@LBC You're adding to the tide AGAINST free speech. This is a bad move. — Jimmy The Fool (@jimmythefool) May 26, 2017
@LBC Disgraceful!! Free speech LBC style! Political correctness gone mad! We ❤️ You @KTHopkins
— Aaron Star (@AaronStarUK) May 26, 2017
It's not the first time Hopkins has targeted Muslims in her posts. In March, in the wake of March's Westminster terror attack, she wrote: "And Ramadan has not yet begun. Without food these sods get nasty."
It's also not the first time Hopkins has been reprimanded for her controversial comments. MailOnline was forced to pay £150,000 to a Muslim family last year after Hopkins falsely accused the family of extremism in a regular column she writes for the publisher.
LBC is known for its often far-right, outspoken discussions. Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage presents a weekly show at the radio station.
Last year the radio station broke ties with former London mayor Ken Livingstone after the host made antisemitic comments claiming Hitler supported Zionism.
Livingstone did not have his contract with the radio station renewed, ending an eight-year stunt. Livingstone has denied that LBC’s decision not to renew his contract is linked to his comments.