Hopkins applies for help with her debts
JUST days after causing controversy during a visit to Wales, it has been revealed that Katie Hopkins is on the verge of bankruptcy.
The controversial commentator has been forced to apply for an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) to manage crippling debts.
The move comes after she lost a libel case to writer and campaigner Jack Monroe.
The court case saw her having to pay £24,000 in damages after a judge ruled she’d caused “serious harm” to Jack’s reputation with a tweet she posted in May 2015.
But the court case, which ended in March 2017, landed her with £107,000 in costs that Hopkins was instructed to pay within 28 days.
She had written: “@MsJackMonroe scrawled on any memorials recently? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for your freedom. Grandma got any more medals?”
Hopkins’ tweet, Jack said, implied she had either vandalised a war memorial or “condoned or approved” of the damage – something that was clearly untrue as Katie had confused Jack with another campaigner.
Jack asked Hopkins to apologise on Twitter, but the far-rightwinger refused – resulting in Jack filing a complaint of defamation.
Hopkins put her luxury £1million Exeter mansion on the market in February this year, selling it for £950,000 within three weeks.
Taking to Twitter, Jack wrote: “I can confirm today that following that landmark libel case, Katie Hopkins has entered into an IVA to avoid bankruptcy.
“I knew for a while but could not say anything for legal reasons. The arbitrary defender of free speech didn’t want anyone to know, ironically...”
She went on: “I have been paid... but many of her creditors, including my lawyer, will not be paid what they are owed. For the want of an apology, a house, a job, a column, a radio show, and now financial solvency, were lost. It’s all very sad, actually.
“I’m not cruel nor celebrating – that case cost me 18 months of sanity and work, and I think neither of us wanted it to turn out this way. (I can recommend an excellent budget cookery book or three, for getting back on your feet, though).”
Hopkins is yet to respond to Jack’s tweets publicly