RTÉ received over 1,000 complaints but sadly it was not enough, and The National Broadcaster still chose to air an interview with the controversial Katie Hopkins.
Calls to boycott the show came last week when Hopkins announced her appearance on the show with a tweet.
Good news team. I have booked my flight. ……to the @RTELateLateShow on Friday. Look forward to seeing you there #MAGA pic.twitter.com/pDeKMbK5q9
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) November 9, 2016
Would-be-viewers shared their disgust that RTÉ would welcome such a hateful character.
Many Twitter users called for a boycott. Alan Maguire shared his thoughts online, calling Hopkins a ‘dangerous bigot’ and stating rightfully, “that it is simply not in the public interest to mainstream the dangerous view of people like Ms. Hopkins.”
I’ve sent a complaint to RTÉ about Katie Hopkins’ Late Late appearance. Maybe you’ll consider doing so too. complaints@rte.ie pic.twitter.com/pT3zYmy5Ym
— November Alan (@alan_maguire) November 9, 2016
Alas, the stunt worked in RTÉ’s favour with the broadcaster confirming that over 740,800 people tuned in to watch.
An RTE source told The Irish Sun that “It was a very popular Late late Show and performed very strongly.”
During the show itself, Hopkins displayed a predictable level of ignorance, hatred and disregard for diversity.
https://twitter.com/WunAngel/status/798167848363446272
did katie hopkins really use the word 'feminazi' on the late late show
— meezy (@meggygou) November 14, 2016
@colettebrowne gosh you're patient. Tried to watch late late on Player but Katie Hopkins is so ignorant. Don't know how you stuck it.
— Kelly (@Kelfogarty) November 14, 2016
After Katie Hopkins it's finally time to put the Late Late Show out of its misery #walkwithtubridy #guttertelevision #haveyounoshame
— jrssl (@jmrssl) November 13, 2016
