14 January 2024 , 22:32
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Controversial former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins has been slammed for mocking grieving Kate Garraway, days after the death of her husband Derek Draper.
Good Morning Britain star Kate, 56, was left devastated when her husband Derek lost his life following an almost four year battle against Covid. The former political lobbyist was struck down by the disease shortly after the UK entered the first lockdown during the pandemic in March 2020 - and was one of the worst affected Covid patients in the world. Derek was in a coma for almost three months and was left unable to speak. He remained in hospital for more than a year and was finally allowed home in April 2021 but required round the clock care.
Kate had flown Derek to Mexico in November last year to undergo a new treatment in the hope it would help his condition, however he suffered a heart attach while in the North American country. Kate flew him back to the UK where he was treated in an intensive care unit but sadly passed away on 3 January due to complication caused by Covid. He was 56 and left behind Kate and their two children; Darcy, 17, and Billy, 14.
Katie Hopkins has been slammed for joking about Kate Garraway's grief (X/@KTHopkins)
Kate was left devastated this month by the death of her husband (GC Images)Over the weekend, 48-year-old Hopkins mocked Kate and her grief. Addressing fans in a video she shared on social media, the disgraced broadcaster - who was fired from her LBC show in 2017 when she made comments about the Manchester Arena bombing, and was banned from Twitter in 2020 for “violations of our hateful conduct policy” before being allowed to return - discussed Kate’s family tragedy.
In her video, Hopkins gleefully swigged red wine while claiming to followers that ITV was screening a 'Life After Derek' TV special that night and that Kate had rushed out a book to discuss Derek’s tragic passing. Neither the TV documentary nor book exists.
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In the accompanying tweet, Hopkins wrote: "Important @ITV documentary tonight. #KateGarraway. #LifeAfterDerek allegedly sponsored by Fizzzzzzzeeerr" in reference to the vaccine company Pfizer, even though Derek caught Covid before the vaccine was invented. "Accompanying book available wherever you get your 100th boooooosta #ExcessDeaths," Hopkins added.
Her cheap comments provoked a vicious backlash. Political commentator Tan Smith said: "I’ve seen a lot of grim stuff on here, but seeing hateful psychopath Katie Hopkins, recording herself laughing whilst mocking Kate Garraway regarding the death of her husband, was one of the worst." Comedian Dom Joly added: "She is a pure sociopath- zero empathy, total grifter."
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Another social media user replied to her, writing: “Weaponising someone’s tragic death for your grift. Stay classy” to which Hopkins replied: "Literally what Garraway has been doing for two years."
Hopkins had anticipated the reaction, saying in her video: “This is where I get such a b****ing where people go ‘That is a line! That crosses a line! How dare you laugh?’… Or the other thing people will say is ‘You should be ashamed of yourself’.”