Drink is no excuse for vile abuse

It should surely go without saying that racism has no place in 2020s Britain. But given what EastEnders actress Katie Jarvis said to Michelle Antonio, that message is still not getting through to some people.

Her language was foul. The sentiment behind it even more so.

Being drunk is no excuse and, as Michelle rightly observes, it’s a person’s true feelings that often come out after having a few.

Jarvis claims she is not a racist – but her behaviour suggests otherwise. She deserved jail instead of the community sentence she got.

And Michelle does a public service today by telling us what a devastating effect this vile incident, and the subsequent court case, has had on her life.

No one should ever have to put up with that. And if, by telling her story, it makes others think twice before hurling racist abuse then some good will come of this.

It started as a silly dispute over a chair. There are many such arguments across the land each and every day and the rights and wrongs are often a little blurred. Bringing a person’s colour into it is not.

It is always unacceptable. Always wrong. And must always be called out and stamped on.

Part of Jarvis’s rant had her declaring: “I’m a celebrity.” Not in our book, you aren’t.

A real celebrity uses the privilege of their profile for good – not as a badge for hurling around filthy, disgusting and hurtful language.