15/10/2012

Calls Increase For Murdoch 'Scumbag Celebrities' Comment Apology

Rupert Murdoch has been asked to apologise and withdraw his comments after he called phone-hacking campaigners "scumbag celebrities" in a Twitter attack.

Criticism of the News Corporation chairman and chief executive has been growing with Charlotte Church taking to Twitter herself on Monday to respond, saying: "It would be decent to withdraw & apologise for calling me, @CharlotteChurch and @jacquihames *scumbags*".

Church and her family got a £600,000 payout from Murdoch for phone hacking earlier this year.

She was responding to Murdoch's outburst on Saturday when he lashed out against the prime minister for meeting a group of phone-hacking campaigners, including Church and the former policewoman Jacqui Hames who is suing News International over alleged hacking by the News of the World.

He tweeted: "Told UK's Cameron receiving scumbag celebrities pushing for even more privacy laws. Trust the toffs! Transparency under attack. Bad."

Church and Hames are part of the Hacked Off lobby group which is campaigning for press reforms.

The group last week met with Cameron to discuss reports he was preparing to allow newspapers one more chance at self-regulation.

Murdoch's remarks on Twitter have angered many including Evan Harris, one of the founders of Hacked Off who said: "The mask has slipped. This is no longer the humblest day of my life Murdoch is it?"

(H)


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