UK TV host panned for vulgar interview with Palestinian MP
After a disgraceful interview on Rupert Murdoch-owned Talk TV, one of their presenters was on the receiving end of a backlash after a game of shouting tennis with a Palestinian MP on January 3.
The Express and other British media outlets said that as of January 10, presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer received just over 15,000 Ofcom complaints. Ofcom is the UK’s broadcasting regulator.
Talk TV is known for its platforming of divisive pundits, notably Piers Morgan, the aforementioned Hartley-Brewer and Jeremy Kyle.
In the fiery interview with Dr Mustapha Barghouti, an MP for the socialist Palestinian National Initiative, the dismissive presenter repeatedly interrupts the interviewee when he attempts to speak about the dire situation in his country not only since the beginning of October, but for numerous decades.
Hartley-Brewer also tried to imply that Barghouti was a misogynist saying “Maybe you’re not used to women talking”. This sparked outrage from many on social media who perceived those comments portraying the stereotype that Muslim men have an archaic view of women. The presenter was also accused of being anti-Palestinian for her comments throughout the “discussion”.
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Her venomous tone with the Palestinian lawmaker was in stark contrast to a recent interview with a representative from the UK Lawyers for Israel where her guest was not challenged on one occasion.
Also in the interview with Barghouti, the Talk TV host claimed that Israel was the only democratic state in the Middle East. This is despite the fact that the country has numerous international court cases against it, it has killed over 23,000 Gazans in the space of 3 months as well as depriving them of basic needs such as food, water and electricity and human rights groups, including Israeli organisation B’Tselem, have found that the country practices a system of apartheid.
Talk TV have had a host of pro-Palestinian individuals since October 7 many of whom have argued that they would have not been pressed as much had they been on the pro-Israel side.
Following the interview, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief for Latin America, Dima Khatib wrote on X (previously Twitter) , “Journalism is committing suicide after this interview.”
Another X user commented, “How is Julia Harley-Brewer allowed on television after her absolutely unprofessional performance. She should be instantly dismissed.”
The Express/ Al Jazeera
