History of Katie Hopkins in Timeline
Katie Hopkins is a controversial English media personality and far-right political commentator. She gained initial fame through her appearance on the reality show "The Apprentice" in 2007. Subsequently, she became a columnist for prominent newspapers like "The Sun" and "MailOnline," known for her provocative views. Her media presence continued with appearances on "Celebrity Big Brother" and her own talk show, "If Katie Hopkins Ruled the World." In 2016, she joined LBC as a radio presenter while also undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy.
February 1975: Birth and Childhood
Katie Olivia Hopkins was born in February 1975 and raised in Bideford, attending a private convent school.
February 1975: Katie Hopkins is born
Katie Olivia Hopkins was born in February 1975.
1975: Sex Discrimination Act
Alan Sugar's questioning of Hopkins about childcare was accused of violating the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
1994: Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994. Katie Hopkins' rhetoric about migrants in 2015 was later compared to the language used by Rwandan media outlets during this period.
September 2004: Marriage to Damian McKinney
Katie Hopkins married Damian McKinney, a former Royal Marine, in September 2004 in Exeter.
2005: Return to the UK
Hopkins returned to the UK in 2005 after working in Manhattan, New York City.
September 2006: Met Office Role
Hopkins joined the Met Office as a global brand consultant in September 2006.
2006: The Apprentice Participation
In late 2006, Hopkins participated in the third series of The Apprentice.
June 2007: Met Office Dismissal
Hopkins lost her job at the Met Office in June 2007, partly due to her appearance and comments on The Apprentice.
October 2007: End of Column at Exeter's Express & Echo
In October 2007, an online poll resulted in the termination of Katie Hopkins's column at Exeter's Express & Echo newspaper.
2007: I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Hopkins joined "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" in 2007.
2007: The Apprentice
In 2007, Hopkins appeared as a contestant on the third series of The Apprentice.
2007: Media Appearances and BBC Contributions
Following The Apprentice, in 2007, Hopkins made appearances on various shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and contributed to BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Online.
2007: The Apprentice Controversy and Backlash
In 2007, Hopkins faced criticism for comments made during The Apprentice, leading to public backlash and scrutiny from figures like Richard Curtis and Michelle Mone.
2009: Hopkins Runs for European Parliament
In the 2009 European Parliament election, Katie Hopkins ran as an independent candidate for the South West England constituency, receiving 0.6% of the vote.
June 2010: Question Time Appearance
Hopkins appeared on Question Time in June 2010.
October 2010: Young Voters' Question Time
Hopkins appeared on the Young Voters' version of Question Time in October 2010.
2010: NHS Scotland Report Data on Healthy Life Expectancy Collected
Data for the "Healthy Life Expectancy in Scotland" report was collected, culminating in its 2011 publication, later referenced by Katie Hopkins in a controversial 2013 tweet.
2010: Appearance on "Four Weddings"
In 2010, Katie Hopkins' wedding to Mark Cross was featured on the reality show "Four Weddings".
January 2011: Question Time Appearance
Hopkins appeared on Question Time in January 2011.
2011: NHS Scotland Publishes Report on Life Expectancy
In 2011, NHS Scotland published a report on healthy life expectancy in Scotland, a report Katie Hopkins would later reference in a controversial tweet.
April 2013: 10 O'Clock Live Appearance
Hopkins appeared on 10 O'Clock Live in April 2013 to discuss Margaret Thatcher's legacy and economic policies.
July 2013: Katie Hopkins Criticizes Children's Names on "This Morning"
In July 2013, during an appearance on ITV's "This Morning", Katie Hopkins sparked controversy by stating she wouldn't allow her children to play with classmates based on their names. She criticized names like Charmaine, Chantelle, and Chardonnay, labeling them as "lower class". A viewer poll showed 91% disagreed with her views.
October 2013: Joins The Sun as Columnist
In late October 2013, Katie Hopkins joined The Sun as a weekly columnist, and was touted as "Britain's most controversial columnist".
December 2013: Katie Hopkins' Tweet Sparks Backlash and Apology
In December 2013, following a debate on Scottish Independence, Katie Hopkins posted a tweet referencing Scottish life expectancy. The tweet, posted shortly after the Glasgow helicopter crash, drew criticism and resulted in a petition calling for her removal from television shows. Hopkins later apologized, stating the tweet's timing was poor.
2013: Columnist for The Sun
Hopkins began working as a columnist for The Sun in 2013.
February 2014: Katie Hopkins Accused of Controversial Opinions for Financial Gain
During an appearance on Channel 5's "The Big Benefits Row: Live" in February 2014, Katie Hopkins faced accusations of expressing controversial opinions solely for financial gain. She refuted these claims, stating her motivations were not financial and that her fee for the "This Morning" appearance was modest.
February 2014: Katie Hopkins Admits to Being a Snob
In a February 2014 interview with The Guardian, Katie Hopkins openly admitted to being a snob, stating that she believed it was "important to be snobby".
May 2014: Katie Hopkins' Tweet about Gypsies Deemed Racist
In May 2014, Katie Hopkins tweeted derogatory comments about gypsies, describing them as "feral humans." This comment was labeled as racist by commentators.
December 2014: Katie Hopkins Investigated for Tweets about Ebola Aid Worker
In December 2014, police investigated complaints regarding Katie Hopkins' tweets about Pauline Cafferkey, an aid worker diagnosed with Ebola. No evidence of criminality was found.
2014: Katie Hopkins Participates in Weight Loss Documentary
In 2014, Katie Hopkins took part in the TLC documentary "Katie Hopkins: Fat and Back", where she gained and lost a significant amount of weight.
2014: Hospitalizations for Epilepsy
In 2014, Katie Hopkins was frequently hospitalized, approximately every ten days, due to epileptic seizures.
January 2015: Celebrity Big Brother Appearance
Hopkins participated in Celebrity Big Brother in January 2015, finishing as runner-up.
January 2015: Katie Hopkins Reflects on Weight Loss Experience
In January 2015, following her participation in the TLC documentary "Katie Hopkins: Fat and Back" in 2014, she reflected on the difficulty of losing weight, acknowledging the challenges of being overweight.
February 2015: Defends Controversial Remarks
In February 2015, Katie Hopkins defended her controversial remarks, welcoming the ensuing debate.
March 2015: Katie Hopkins Reported to Police for Tweets about National Pakistan Day
Katie Hopkins' objection to Rochdale's commemoration of National Pakistan Day in March 2015, based on a local sex trafficking case, led to her being reported to the police for potential race hate crimes.
April 2015: Katie Hopkins' Comments on Dementia Patients Draw Condemnation
In April 2015, Katie Hopkins sparked outrage by referring to dementia patients as "bed blockers" and suggesting they were better off dead. Her comments drew condemnation from Alzheimer's charities.
April 2015: Katie Hopkins' Migrant Comments Condemned by UN
In April 2015, Katie Hopkins faced condemnation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her column in The Sun comparing migrants to "cockroaches" and suggesting the use of gunships.
April 2015: Guest Presenter on LBC
In April 2015, Katie Hopkins worked as a guest presenter for LBC, where her "panto villain act" was noted.
April 2015: Media Tipping Point
By April 2015, there was discussion in the media regarding the potential tipping point where organizations would no longer want to be associated with Hopkins.
September 2015: Petitions Call for Katie Hopkins' Removal from The Sun
In September 2015, following renewed controversy over her views on migrants, multiple petitions circulated calling for Katie Hopkins to be sacked from The Sun newspaper.
September 2015: Hopkins Makes Controversial Remarks at UKIP Conference
During a speech at the UK Independence Party's annual conference in September 2015, Katie Hopkins made derogatory remarks about Michelle Mone's appointment to the House of Lords, including a controversial comment about "gassing" those present.
October 2015: Church and Media Conference Speech
At a Church and Media conference in October 2015, Hopkins spoke about freedom of speech and her refusal to apologize for her statements, referring to herself as "Jesus of the outspoken".
November 2015: Katie Hopkins Questioned by Police Over Migrant Article
In November 2015, Katie Hopkins was questioned by police after being reported for her controversial article on migrants, though no charges were filed.
November 2015: Student Protest at Brunel University
In November 2015, students at Brunel University protested Katie Hopkins' presence at a debate by turning their backs and walking out.
November 2015: Street Injury Due to Epilepsy
In November 2015, Katie Hopkins suffered a fall and facial injury due to an epileptic seizure, requiring an ambulance.
December 2015: Katie Hopkins Supports Donald Trump and His Muslim Ban Proposal
In December 2015, Katie Hopkins expressed support for Donald Trump's presidential bid, defending his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. She refused to name the supposed "no-go" areas of London that Trump claimed existed.
December 2015: Mahmood Family Denied Entry to US
On December 15, 2015, the Mahmood family from Walthamstow were stopped from boarding a flight from Gatwick to Los Angeles after their US visas were revoked.
2015: UKIP Application Rejection
In 2015, UKIP stated that Katie Hopkins was not a member and had been rejected multiple times despite several applications.
2015: Celebrity Big Brother and TV Show Host
In 2015, Hopkins appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and hosted her own television talk show, "If Katie Hopkins Ruled the World".
2015: My Fat Story Documentary
In 2015, Hopkins documented her weight gain and loss journey for the TLC program "My Fat Story".
January 2016: Jack Monroe Initiates Libel Action Against Hopkins
Jack Monroe initiated libel proceedings against Katie Hopkins in January 2016 after Hopkins falsely accused Monroe of vandalising a war memorial, mistaking her for journalist Laurie Penny.
February 2016: Brain Surgery for Epilepsy
Katie Hopkins underwent brain surgery in February 2016 to treat her epilepsy, later declaring herself seizure-free.
April 2016: Talk Show Host on LBC
In April 2016, Katie Hopkins began presenting a Sunday morning talk show on LBC, a London-based national talk and phone-in radio station.
August 2016: Katie Hopkins' Tweet about Camber Sands Drownings Reported to Police
Following the drowning of five people at Camber Sands in August 2016, Katie Hopkins posted a tweet mocking the victims. Sussex Police investigated the tweet but deemed it non-criminal, though it was later deleted.
August 2016: Hopkins Calls for Water Cannons Against Black Lives Matter Protesters
In August 2016, Katie Hopkins publicly urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to employ water cannons against Black Lives Matter protesters who had chained themselves to the tarmac at Heathrow Airport.
December 2016: Daily Mail Settles Libel Case with Mahmood Family
The Daily Mail settled a libel case in December 2016, paying £150,000 in damages plus legal costs to the Mahmood family over articles by Katie Hopkins falsely linking them to extremism. Hopkins had incorrectly claimed the family were connected to al-Qaida.
December 2016: Katie Hopkins' Controversial Article Removed from The Sun Website
By December 2016, The Sun newspaper removed Katie Hopkins' controversial article comparing migrants to cockroaches from its website.
2016: Libel Case Loss
In 2016, MailOnline, Hopkins' former employer, paid damages to a Muslim family due to false accusations made by Hopkins.
2016: Criticism of Multiculturalism and Notting Hill Carnival
In 2016, Hopkins criticized multiculturalism, referencing a so-called "multicultural mafia" and linking it to increased crime. She also criticized the Notting Hill Carnival.
2016: Anti-Islam Statements
Following the 2016 Nice truck attack, Katie Hopkins made anti-Islam statements, expressing disgust towards the religion and advocating for a burqa ban.
January 2017: Hopkins Downplays Racism and Defends Controversial Stance
In January 2017, Katie Hopkins engaged in a controversial discussion on her LBC program, downplaying the impact of the word "racist" and stating that it has lost meaning to her. She defended her stance on Twitter, connecting her views to her outspoken support for white women and linking it to fears of offending Muslims. In subsequent tweets, she expressed support for racial profiling.
March 2017: Speech at David Horowitz Freedom Center Event
In March 2017, Hopkins gave a speech at a David Horowitz Freedom Center event criticizing Muslims and calling on people to "fight for your country".
March 2017: Hopkins Loses Libel Case, Ordered to Pay Damages
In March 2017, Katie Hopkins lost the libel case brought by Jack Monroe and was ordered to pay £24,000 in damages and £107,000 in legal costs.
May 2017: Departure from LBC
Katie Hopkins's departure from LBC was announced on May 26, 2017, following controversial comments on Twitter after the Manchester Arena bombing.
May 2017: LBC Termination
Hopkins' role at LBC was terminated in May 2017 following controversial comments on Twitter.
May 2017: Hopkins Criticizes Black Lives Matter Movement
In May 2017, Katie Hopkins posted a tweet referencing the Netflix series "Dear White People" and posing a critical question about the Black Lives Matter movement. Though the tweet was deleted, screenshots circulated.
June 2017: Daily Mail Denies Association
In June 2017, the Daily Mail published a front-page article denying any association with Katie Hopkins, clarifying that she worked for Mail Online, a separate entity.
June 2017: Hopkins Advocates for Internment Camps on Fox News
Following the June 2017 London Bridge attack, Katie Hopkins appeared on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," advocating for the use of internment camps for suspected Muslim extremists. The network's host, Clayton Morris, publicly denounced her suggestion as "reprehensible."
July 2017: Hopkins' Article on Migrant Rescue Deleted from MailOnline
An article by Katie Hopkins claiming collusion between NGOs and traffickers in Sicily, published on MailOnline in July 2017, was quickly removed. The article was criticised for lacking evidence, and Save the Children refuted Hopkins' assertion of having spent time with their crew.
July 2017: Hopkins Visits Migrant Rescue Ship, Associates with Controversial Figures
In July 2017, Katie Hopkins traveled to Catania, Sicily, to visit the C-Star vessel, hired by the Defend Europe movement, which aimed to disrupt migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Defend Europe is backed by individuals like white-nationalist David Duke and the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer.
October 2017: Last Column for Mail Online
Katie Hopkins's last column for Mail Online was published on October 5, 2017.
November 2017: Mail Online Apologises to Teacher Jackie Teale
In November 2017, Mail Online issued an apology and paid "substantial damages" to teacher Jackie Teale following false accusations by Katie Hopkins that Teale had taken her students to a Donald Trump protest.
November 2017: Appearance at David Horowitz Freedom Center
In early November 2017, a video of Hopkins's appearance at the David Horowitz Freedom Center in Florida surfaced, where she made controversial statements about Muslims and the need to "fight for your country".
November 2017: Mail Contract Not Renewed
In late November 2017, it was revealed that Hopkins's contract with Mail Online was not renewed by mutual consent.
2017: Public Disclosure of Epilepsy and Surgery
Katie Hopkins publicly shared her experiences with epilepsy and subsequent surgery in 2017, highlighting the impact on her life.
2017: Hopkins Tweets About "Final Solution" After Manchester Bombing
Katie Hopkins caused controversy in 2017 when she tweeted about a "final solution" following the Manchester Arena bombing, invoking the Nazi term for the Holocaust.
2017: End of MailOnline Column
Hopkins' column with MailOnline ended in 2017.
2017: Criticism of Multiculturalism After London Bridge Attack
Following the 2017 London Bridge attack, Hopkins criticized "Liberals in London" for their support of multiculturalism.
January 2018: Joins The Rebel Media
Katie Hopkins joined The Rebel Media, a Canadian far-right website, in January 2018, expressing her excitement about a platform without censorship.
January 2018: Hopkins' Appeal Refused, Sells Home to Cover Legal Costs
Katie Hopkins' appeal against the libel case ruling was denied in January 2018. She sold her home to cover the legal expenses.
February 2018: Promotes White Genocide Conspiracy Theory
In February 2018, Hopkins promoted the white genocide conspiracy theory, focusing on South Africa.
February 2018: Hopkins Detained in South Africa for Alleged Racial Hatred
In February 2018, Katie Hopkins was detained in South Africa for allegedly spreading racial hatred, not for taking ketamine as falsely reported.
February 2018: Hopkins Detained in South Africa for Alleged Racial Hatred
Katie Hopkins was detained in South Africa in February 2018 and had her passport temporarily confiscated on grounds of allegedly spreading racial hatred.
March 2018: Sale of Exeter Home
Katie Hopkins sold her home in Exeter for £930,000 in March 2018.
May 2018: Hopkins Wins IPSO Case Against Daily Mirror
Katie Hopkins won a case against the Daily Mirror in May 2018 over their claim that she was detained in South Africa for ketamine possession. The Mirror corrected the headline to reflect the accurate reason for her detainment: spreading racial hatred.
May 2018: Individual Voluntary Arrangement
In May 2018, Katie Hopkins filed for an individual voluntary arrangement to avoid bankruptcy following a libel case with Jack Monroe.
October 2018: Departure from Rebel Media
Around October 2018, Katie Hopkins was quietly dropped as a contributor to Rebel Media.
2018: Hopkins Links Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting to Migrant Rescue Efforts
Following the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, Katie Hopkins controversially suggested a link between the incident and the UK Chief Rabbi's support for migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean. She later removed the tweet.
2019: Homelands Documentary
In 2019, Katie Hopkins presented the documentary "Homelands", which focused on the topic of Islam in Europe.
January 2020: Temporary Suspension from Twitter
Katie Hopkins was temporarily suspended from Twitter for one week in January 2020.
May 2020: Incident at Finsbury Park Mosque
In May 2020, a violent incident occurred which Katie Hopkins inaccurately linked to Finsbury Park Mosque. She later issued an apology for this false accusation.
June 2020: Twitter Suspension
Hopkins was suspended from Twitter in June 2020 for violations of their hateful conduct policy.
June 2020: Permanent Suspension from Twitter
In June 2020, Katie Hopkins was permanently suspended from Twitter due to violations of their hateful conduct policy.
October 2020: Hopkins Apologises to Finsbury Park Mosque
Katie Hopkins issued an apology in October 2020 after being sued by Finsbury Park Mosque for falsely linking it to a violent incident in May 2020.
2020: Prank by Josh Pieters
In 2020, Katie Hopkins was pranked by YouTuber Josh Pieters, flying to Prague to accept a fake award.
January 2021: Joined UKIP
Katie Hopkins successfully joined UKIP in January 2021, expressing her desire to move beyond social media commentary.
July 2021: Deportation from Australia
Hopkins was deported from Australia in July 2021 for breaching COVID-19 regulations.
July 2021: Hopkins Deported from Australia After Breaching COVID-19 Regulations
Katie Hopkins was removed from the Australian Big Brother VIP show and deported from Australia in July 2021 after boasting on social media about breaching hotel quarantine rules. She received a fine and had her visa cancelled.
November 2023: Twitter Reinstatement
Hopkins' Twitter account was reinstated in November 2023.
November 2023: Twitter Account Reinstated
Katie Hopkins' Twitter account was reinstated on November 5, 2023.