Katie Hopkins

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Katie Hopkins

Credentials

Background

Katie Hopkins is a British media personality and journalist. She is regularly described as a “far-right commentator” and currently writes for FrontPage Magazine, an online political website edited by David Horowitz, an American conservative writer and funder with ties to youth conservative group Turning Point USA.2Ben Quinn. “Tommy Robinson given nine-month jail sentence for contempt of court,” Guardian, July 11, 2019. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Wi6Wt 3Alexandra Hutzler. “Who Is Katie Hopkins? Far-Right British Activist Known for Racist Rants Finds Support from Donald Trump,” Newsweek, September 8, 2019. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/EZi9z 4Katie Hopkins,” FrontPage Magazine. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/orcL6 5David Horrowitz,” FrontPage Magazine. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/qdNI8

Hopkins rose to prominence in 2007 through her appearance on The Apprentice, a BBC reality game show where contestants attempt to prove their business skills to business magnate Lord Alan Sugar. She was subsequently fired from her role as a global brand consultant at the UK’s Met Office after failing to pass a probationary period.6Apprentice contender Katie fired,” BBC News, June 12, 2007. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/XAX5k 7You’re fired again, Katie!Mail Online, June 13, 2007. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/bTvaG 8Emilia Bona. “The rise and fall of Katie Hopkins from The Apprentice to ‘professional troll’,” Liverpool Echo, November 24, 2019. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/54JYv

Over the years, Hopkins has criticised the work of the Met Office saying its scientists’ salaries “depend on climate change being real” and has claimed that she has “seen them scaremongering” and “using data in interesting ways to make the problem seem worse in order to secure funding”. She has also described the idea that “global warming is going to incinerate all of us” as “absolutely nonsense”.9Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom 10Daily Mail columnist reacts to US exit from climate accord,” YouTube video uploaded by user Fox News on June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Although Hopkins’ personal Twitter page is her principal means of expressing her views, Katie Hopkins has previously written for The Sun, the Mail Online, and radio station LBC.11Adam Payne and Thomas Colson. “Trump regularly retweets Katie Hopkins and called her ‘respectable’ — in reality she is a marginal figure who called migrants ‘cockroaches’ and once claimed to be the ‘the new Jesus’,” Business Insider, August 3, 2019. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/qsZRi

Hopkins is known for her controversial views on a number of subjects. She suggested there should be a “final solution” in dealing with terrorists following the 2017 Manchester terror attack, has claimed she would not let her children play with other children with names like Tyler or Chardonnay because “a name is a shortcut of finding out what class a child comes from,” and has compared refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to cockroaches.12Heather Saul. “Katie Hopkins urged to apologise for dehumanising column comparing refugees to ‘cockroaches’ after Independent campaign,” Independent, September 3, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/pyOEe 137 times Katie Hopkins hit the headlines,” BBC News, May 26, 2017. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/lPntr 14Apprentice star Katie Hopkins defends comments over children’s names,” ITV News, July 6, 2013. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/TvgTZ 15John Plunkett. “Katie Hopkins: Sun migrants article petition passes 200,000 mark,” Guardian, April 20, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ItcEl

Her comments have led to various legal disputes, her account being suspended from Twitter for violating its anti-hate policy, and LBC terminating her radio show contract.16MailOnline forced to pay out £150k over libellous Katie Hopkins column,” ITV News, December 19, 2016. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/u25iX 17Jack Monroe wins Katie Hopkins libel tweet case,” BBC News, March 10, 2017. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/1GjIO 18Katie Hopkins’ Twitter account suspended,” Guardian, January 31, 2020. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/mQg02 19Alexandra Topping. “Katie Hopkins leaves LBC radio show after ‘final solution’ tweet,” Guardian, May 26, 2017. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/pmNUp

In 2009, Hopkins unsuccessfully stood as an independent candidate for the European Parliamentary Elections.20European Election 2009: South West,” BBC News, June 8, 2009. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/p6JQK

Hopkins has been particularly vocal during the coronavirus pandemic, comparing the death tolls to that of the seasonal flu and encouraging people to “get it” as “the herd triumphs”. She has also tweeted that “the Great Lockdown could well be the biggest overreaction in human history”.21Katie Hopkins. “Seasonal flu: 17,000 deaths a year. Corona: 1228 to date. Keep perspective. Keep calm. Keep distracted,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, March 29, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog. 22Katie Hopkins. “Will you all stop flapping your gums? Generation selfish have been raised to think ONLY of themselves. #coronavirus is a team sport. Get it. Get immunity. Feel better. The herd triumphs. Do not fear death. Everyone has an end. It’s just the timing that is,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, March 13, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog. 23Katie Hopkins. “Anyone seeing the OBVIOUS glaring issue yet? The Great Lockdown could well be the biggest overreaction in human history. (See empty Nightingale hospital for details) #Coronabollocks,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, April 16, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

Stance on Climate Change

June 2, 2017

Speaking to Fox News in response to the negative reaction to President Donald Trump’s planned withdrawal from of the Paris Agreement, Hopkins said:24Daily Mail columnist reacts to US exit from climate accord,” YouTube video uploaded by user Fox News on June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“It’s absolutely nonsense. I can’t believe these guys are buying into this kind of furore that this is the destruction of the planet, that we’re lost forever, that global warming is going to incinerate all of us.”25Daily Mail columnist reacts to US exit from climate accord,” YouTube video uploaded by user Fox News on June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

On the Paris Agreement and climate change scientists, Hopkins added:26Daily Mail columnist reacts to US exit from climate accord,” YouTube video uploaded by user Fox News on June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“It’s an absolute fraud, Trump’s done the right thing… I have seen scientists virtually on their knees begging for grants from the EU, grants from these kind of climate change funds… I have seen them scaremongering, I have seen them using data in interesting ways to make the problem seem worse in order to secure funding, in order to secure their jobs.”27Daily Mail columnist reacts to US exit from climate accord,” YouTube video uploaded by user Fox News on June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Key Quotes

November 30, 2015

In a Mail Online column criticising the necessity of COP21, the U.N. climate summit that led to the signing of the Paris Agreement, Hopkins wrote:28Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

“My personal view is there are some inconvenient climate truths we don’t get to hear much about, thanks to liberal lefties and Welsh singers trying to be a fat, blonde Russell Brand.29Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

“Of the world’s best 50 models on climate change, 95 per cent predicted that Antarctic Sea ice would decrease over the past 30 years.30Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

“It increased.”31Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

Although southern sea ice has increased, scientists believe this is due to “icy winds blowing off Antarctica, as well as a powerful ocean current that circles the frozen continent” which play a large role in keeping warmer waters and temperatures away and giving the sea ice a chance to expand. But as the scientists note, it’s not the sea ice that impacts sea level rise, it’s continental ice sheets that they’re worried about and which are being more dramatically impacted by climate change.32Bob Berwyn. “Why Is Antarctica’s Sea Ice Growing While the Arctic Melts? Scientists Have an Answer,” Inside Climate News, May 31, 2016. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/oc6K9

Hopkins went on to criticise climate scientists:33Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

“They hugely exaggerated the impact of climate change. The last IPCC report showed an increase of just 0.05 C per decade, despite CO2 emissions rising.”34Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

“Scientists are floundering. Having worked at the Met Office, I can tell you their salaries depend on climate change being real.”35Katie Hopkins. “Why are 150 world leaders, 40,000 delegates and all the usual luvvies fiddling around with climate ‘change’ while ISIS makes the world burn?,” Mail Online, November 30, 2015. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CHYom

December 29, 2014

Hopkins tweeted:36Katie Hopkins. “Catholic Church badges those that see climate change as a load old piffle as deniers. We are not deniers. We are masters of the truth,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, December 24, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

“Catholic Church badges those that see climate change as a load old piffle as deniers. We are not deniers. We are masters of the truth.”37Katie Hopkins. “Catholic Church badges those that see climate change as a load old piffle as deniers. We are not deniers. We are masters of the truth,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, December 24, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

A few minutes later, she added:38Katie Hopkins. “Having said that..Catholic Church labels atheists deniers too. So I guess I might as well be a climate change denier as well. #Double denier,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, December 24, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

“Having said that.. Catholic Church labels atheists deniers too. So I guess I might as well be a climate change denier as well. #Double denier.”39Katie Hopkins. “Having said that..Catholic Church labels atheists deniers too. So I guess I might as well be a climate change denier as well. #Double denier,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, December 24, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

March 29, 2014

Hopkins tweeted:40Katie Hopkins. “Met Office view of climate change, “there is currently no clear evidence of a link to recent dry periods in the UK.” No evidence for CC,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, March 29, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

“Met Office view of climate change, ‘there is currently no clear evidence of a link to recent dry periods in the UK.’ No evidence for CC.”41Katie Hopkins. “Met Office view of climate change, “there is currently no clear evidence of a link to recent dry periods in the UK.” No evidence for CC,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, March 29, 2014. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

April 26, 2013

Hopkins tweeted:42Katie Hopkins. “@marty_hogg Climate change is not science. It is history. Repeating itself,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, April 26, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

“Climate change is not science. It is history. Repeating itself.”43Katie Hopkins. “@marty_hogg Climate change is not science. It is history. Repeating itself,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, April 26, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

April 25, 2013

Hopkins tweeted:

“… Given climate change is nonsense, I am unclear why we need a Minister of Nonsense.”44Katie Hopkins. “@Watapicture sun! Given climate change is nonsense, I am unclear why we need a Minister of Nonsense,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, April 25, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

Key Deeds

April 14, 2020

In response to a tweet expressing that science is not subjective, Hopkins wrote:

“May I direct you to climate science, sir? About as subjective as my mother in law.”45Katie Hopkins. “May I direct you to climate science, sir? About as subjective as my mother in law. And she only likes her cat,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, April 14, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

March 13, 2020

During the coronavirus pandemic, Hopkins tweeted that “climate weirdos have shut up” as one of three “positives” to have come from the outbreak of the virus.46Katie Hopkins. “Positives about #CoronaOutbreak 1) Climate weirdos have shut up 2) Meghan Markle gurning in badly fitting outfits is not news 3) People are learning how to sneeze respectfully. Keep calm and carry on my loves,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, March 13, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

February 27, 2020

During a confrontation between a climate change protestor and former UK Independence Party leader Gerard Batten, Hopkins, who was walking with Batten, repeatedly asked the protestor where he went to school. Later, referring to the clip on Twitter, Hopkins wrote, “get back in school you posh prats”.47Katie Hopkins. “Dedicated to all the poshos (just back from skiing )who will be kneeling at the foot of St Greta in Bristol tomorrow. Get back in school you posh prats,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, February 27, 2020. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png and .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

October 21, 2013

Hopkins suggested that “green nutters” should “go cuddle a wind turbine” and celebrated that “on planet practical we are building a thundering great nuclear power planet”.48Katie Hopkins. “Green nutters – go cuddle a wind turbine. Here on planet practical we are building a thundering great nuclear power plant. Hoorah!” Tweet by @KTHopkins, October 21, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

September 23, 2013

On Twitter, Hopkins wrote:49Katie Hopkins. “In new IPCC report the word ‘uncertainty’ features more than word ‘climate’. Since 2007 global average temps have not gone above 1998 levels,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, September 23, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

“In new IPCC report the word ‘uncertainty’ features more than word ‘climate’. Since 2007 global average temps have not gone above 1998 levels.”50Katie Hopkins. “In new IPCC report the word ‘uncertainty’ features more than word ‘climate’. Since 2007 global average temps have not gone above 1998 levels,” Tweet by @KTHopkins, September 23, 2013. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

NASA data shows the average global surface temperatures in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 were all above the 0.61° Celsius average in 1998. Additionally, “nineteen of the 20 warmest years all have occurred since 2001, with the exception of 1998”.51Global Temperature,” NASA Climate. Archived May 18, 2020. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/m1CoY

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