Every year it’s a hot button topic, and ITV News’ Charlene White has become the eye of an internet storm after refusing to wear a poppy on air.
And now the presenter has hit back at vile attacks, explaining that it’s “never an easy decision”.
Charlene tweeted: “I wear a poppy off-screen. I donate to the British Legion. I come from a forces family. I’m really not a [bleep], [bleep] or [bleep]”.
She also linked to an article she wrote in 2014, writing: “For those asking tonight – some nicely, others not – here’s an article explaining why I don’t wear a poppy on air.”
For those asking tonight – some nicely, others not – here’s an article explaining why I don’t wear a poppy on air: https://t.co/YNXJeWJ5OS
– I wear a poppy off screen
– I donate to the British Legion
– I come from a forces family
– I’m really not a b***h, c**t or p***k— Charlene White (@CharleneWhite) November 2, 2018
In the article from 2014, the 38-year-old explains: “I support and am patron of a number of charities, and due to impartiality rules, I am not allowed to visually support them all whilst presenting news programmes.
“In my private life, it’s very different. I wear a poppy on Armistice Day – in fact I wear one that my friend Jen’s mum knitted for me a few years ago. And I proudly have one of the ceramic poppies from the Tower Of London on my mantelpiece.”
Charlene, whose dad served in the RAF and uncle was in the Army, adds: “And every year I donate to the British Legion. Money which the charity desperately needs for the work that they do to support serving and ex-service men and women and their families.
“So please don’t think that I don’t support the work that our service personnel do, or that I don’t understand the sacrifices made by servicemen and women 100 years ago. I do.”
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Some of the less offensive tweets about Charlene included: “Why doesn’t Charlene white wear a poppy. All the other newsreaders do. It’s called respect”.
Another wrote: “Very disappointed & disgusted that @itvnews allow @CharleneWhite to disrespect this country’s war heroes by not wearing a #poppy”.
A third wrote: “@itvnews please enlighten us on why Charlene White does not wear a poppy. If she refuses to, please do not put her in front of the cameras during this time. Disgrace”.
Others stepped up to defend her after reading the explanation, with one tweeting: “Did you read Charlene’s piece? She’s trying to be consistent. Tokenistic poppy wearers are all over our screens at the moment, many who won’t have bothered to even buy one themselves.”
Another wrote: “She can wear or not wear whatever she wants!”
A third – who also happens to be a war veteran – added: “It truly saddens me that @CharleneWhite is abused for not wearing a poppy on TV. No one should feel pressured to wear, or be abused for not wearing, a poppy. It is a personal choice & the self-righteous seem to forget that so many died so that we all have that freedom to choose.”
Bravo, Charlene. I too support the British Legion & wear my poppy proudly off-screen, even in countries where it can cause problems. But I don't think broadcasters should have to conform like this. Didn't our forces fight so that we could make up our own minds about such things?
— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) November 3, 2018
Fellow journalist and news presenter John Simpson chimed in with his support, writing: “Bravo, Charlene. I too support the British Legion & wear my poppy proudly off-screen, even in countries where it can cause problems.
“But I don’t think broadcasters should have to conform like this. Didn’t our forces fight so that we could make up our own minds about such things?”
The TV star became the first black woman to present ITV News at Ten back in 2014, and presents ITV News London’s main 6pm programme.
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Not everyone has to agree with Charlene’s decision, but there really isn’t any need for any of these nasty attacks.
What do you think of Charlene’s decision? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.