Katie Hopkins’ libel defeat just got a bit sweeter with a spoof crowdfunding campaign

The news that Jack Monroe won a libel case against Katie Hopkins just got that bit sweeter. Spoof news site Southend News Network has been crowdfunding for her court costs. And it is donating all the money raised to The Trussell Trust, which runs over 400 food banks.

The libel case

Monroe brought the libel case after Hopkins confused Monroe with writer Laurie Penny over graffiti written on a war memorial during an anti-austerity protest. Hopkins tweeted to Monroe:

Scrawled on any memorials recently? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for your freedom. Grandma got any more medals?

Monroe asked Hopkins to apologise. Instead, she tweeted:

Can someone explain to me – in 10 words or less – the difference between irritant @PennyRed and social anthrax @MsJackMonroe.

Monroe argued that the tweets had caused damage to their reputation and provoked abuse on Twitter, including death threats. And that the whole case was:

an 18-month unproductive, devastating nightmare.

The court agreed and awarded Monroe £24,000 in damages. Including legal fees, the case will cost Hopkins over £300,000.

Crowdfunding

And so, Southend News Network set up the crowdfunding page. The site states:

We believe that having to find such an enormous sum of money could jeopardise Katie’s glittering career in journalism, and we are not prepared to sit here and watch her disappear from our screens and newspapers!

Therefore, we hope to raise the full £324,000 as a matter of urgency so that Katie doesn’t have to endure any financial hardship as a result of this massive injustice.

But just in case anyone took it seriously, as Hopkins herself has done in the past, it added:

LEGAL BIT: We’re actually going to give the money to The Trussell Trust – a FANTASTIC cause who help to provide foodbanks all over the UK. Because irony … REMEMBER TO GIFT AID!!!!

The initiative has already raised £13,817 for The Trussell Trust, of which Monroe is a patron. Southend News Network, which points out that the crowdfunder is not an official Trussell Trust campaign, is stunned the campaign is doing so well:

We’re going to be honest… we had no idea that this ‘p*ss take’ would actually turn into something so valuable! HUGE THANKS to everyone who has donated so far, and please keep sharing.

The case

Out of all the offensive things Hopkins has said, this case centres around what is perhaps one of her milder comments. After all, this is the woman who compared migrants to cockroaches and was criticised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. And while Monroe did not deserve any of the abuse they received on Twitter, Hopkins’ other comments may have done far more damage to already marginalised and vulnerable communities.

But this notwithstanding, many are celebrating seeing Hopkins get taken down. And this crowdfunder not only rubs salt in the wound, it is also raising awareness and money for an important cause.

Get Involved!

– Support the crowdfunder.

– Support the The Trussell Trust.

Featured image via Just Giving