Entertainment
Katie Price launches new petition to crack down on disability hate crime after BGT star, 5, is tormented with death threats
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Katie Price is launching another petition to put a stop to disability hate crime, she confirmed on today’s This Morning.
It comes after the former glamour model threw her support behind Britain’s Got Talent star Christian Kildruff, five, who has recently been the target of online abuse.
Katie appeared on Tuesday’s This Morning alongside Christian’s sister Jade and his foster mum Diane to discuss what can be done to put a stop to online trolling.
Christian, who was born with cerebral palsy, rose to fame with his sister Jade in 2020 with their choir Sign With Us.
However, following their first BGT audition a year ago, Christian has been subjected to death threats and abuse online.
Katie’s 18-year-old son Harvey, who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome, was targeted on Twitter in 2017 by an unnamed 19-year-old who received a caution from Sussex Police.
She subsequently launched Harvey’s Law, a proposed law which would make it illegal to troll or abuse other people online, making it a punishable offence.
Katie explained to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that she has another petition launching this week following the abuse Christian has received.
‘This is why I do Harvey’s Law, I have a new petition coming out this week because it has to stop,’ Katie began.
‘I’d love to go and meet some of these trolls, it’s something I’d want to do to ask what goes through their heads, to want to do make these videos and comments – what are they getting out of it?
‘I am hoping to do something, well I am, I am starting a new petition. I think online, any apps and online stuff, you should have I.D. so then you can get tracked.’
‘At the moment they can close you down and then they can open another account and start abusing again,’ she added.
‘I think the more you say it hurts, sometimes I think it just encourages them especially when I have named and shamed a few of them. I think they get a kick out of it.’
The mum-of-five went on to emphasise the importance of her campaign as she hopes one day something will be put in place to put a stop to all online abuse.
‘As soon as these trolls know you’ll get fined, go on a register or you can either go to prison and you get a criminal record,’ she added. ‘I do think it will slow down but at the moment there’s absolutely nothing in place.’
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
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