Watson’s £1m pledge
ACTRESS Emma Watson, left, has made a £1 million donation to a new fund that will provide support for those affected by sexual harassment.
Tom Hiddleston and Keira Knightley are among the names listed on the Go Fund Me page as having each donated £10,000. THE family of murdered MP Jo Cox have pledged their support to her embattled widower Brendan after sexual assault allegations from his past resurfaced.
Ms Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater said Mr Cox “did the right thing” in admitting “inappropriate” behaviour while he worked at Save the Children in 2015.
Mr Cox denied preying on two women while he was married to the late politician, but said: “I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence.”
He has left posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation after the Mail on Sunday published accusations, though he claimed allegations that he forced himself on a woman during a trip to Harvard University in the US were a “massive exaggeration”.
In a statement following his resignations at the weekend, Ms Leadbeater said: “This is another very difficult day for our family. The last 20 months have been a constant roller-coaster of emotions which we are still dealing with on a daily basis.
“My priority is and always will be looking after Jo and Brendan’s children and supporting my parents, who have already been through so much.
“As a family we will support Brendan as he endeavours to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past, and we respect him for doing so.
“We all make mistakes. Brendan is a wonderful father and I have no doubt about the happiness he brought to Jo. My other focus is to wholeheartedly continue the work I have begun through the More in Common movement at a local and national level and to support The Jo Cox Foundation in continuing its valuable work.
“I have a fantastic team of people who have supported me so far and I know they will continue to do so as we focus on creating a positive legacy for Jo. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support.”
Labour MP Mrs Cox was fatally shot and stabbed outside her constituency office by a far-right terrorist during the EU Referendum campaign in 2016. The pair married in 2009 and had two children together.
The Mail on Sunday claimed Mr Cox drunkenly harassed a female employee at Save the Children in London – allegedly holding her by the throat and making a lurid comment. He left his role at the charity shortly afterwards.
Her husband said in a statement on Saturday night: “I want to apologise deeply and unreservedly for my past behaviour and for the hurt and offence that I have caused. While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence.
“This was never malicious but it was certainly inappropriate.”