"This Morning" Show Host Gets Flak For Calling Meghan Markle "Uppity," Accused Of Racism

Dec 03, 2019 by apost team

Eamonn Holmes, a morning program host from the UK is in hot water for his remarks against the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, calling her "uppity" for not allowing photographs at Wimbledon this year.

A Markle fan came to her defense online, calling the term racist for its historical meaning.

Holmes is a host on the popular show "This Morning," which Britons wake up to every day for the morning's news, entertainment updates, and light daytime TV content. On an episode which aired in July following the Duchess's appearance at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, he remarked on her request to not have photos taken on-air, as per The Mirror:

"If you have an uppity attitude, you’re only through the door two minutes and suddenly you’re sitting at Wimbledon and your royal protection are saying, 'No photographs, no photographs!’”

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A member of the public wrote to the show's network ITV, to say they had taken offense to the term. It has historically racist connotations, being defined in the 19th century as a description of "black people who didn't know their place," according to The Atlantic in the article entitled "Yep, 'Uppity' Is Racist."

Holmes was unaware of such a definition and ITV came to his defense. ITV's head of diversity recently responded to the complaint in a statement saying:

"Eamonn was unaware of the history of the term 'uppity' and how it could be interpreted when describing Meghan Markle," reports The Mirror. We are not saying that ignorance is in any way a defense, he was using the term to describe what he interpreted as arrogance."

The statement continues on to say that the word will be considered carefully regarding the context of its use in future broadcasts and that the connotations and history have been explained to Holmes.

There have been mixed reactions to the minor controversy online, some users believing it is "utter drivel" while others "hope he gets in trouble for it."

What do you think about Eamonn Holmes calling Meghan Markle "uppity?" Should he make a public apology for the statement or did his TV network do the right thing for not reprimanding him? Tell us your thoughts.