Life

Munroe Bergdorf dropped as Childline ambassador following “transphobic hate campaign”

By Matt Moore

9th June 2019

Munroe Bergdorf was dropped after claims that she had been a porn actress.

Munroe Bergdorf has been dropped as a Childline ambassador just three days after she was announced as the charity’s first LGBTQ campaigner.

Munroe released a statement, saying: “I’m so sad to be writing this, unbelievably sad. Yesterday a Times journalist Janice Turner decided to launch a transphobic hate campaign on Twitter, calling me a ‘Porn Model’ and suggesting that if @childline_official didn’t stop working with me as a campaigner they would be urging people to cancel their direct debits.

“Firstly I have never shot porn in my life, secondly demonising those who do isn’t okay either.

“This Pride Month Childline had the opportunity to lead by example and stand up for the trans community, not bow down to anti-LGBT hate and overt transphobia. But instead they decided to sever ties without speaking to me, delete all the content we made together and back-peddle without giving any reason why.

“This comes just a couple of months after parents throughout the UK threatened to remove their children from schools for teaching about LGBT relationships and identities. My role with Childline was not paid, I accepted their request to become their first LGBT+ campaigner because I care about the wellbeing of all LGBT+ kids, but especially trans kids who are consistently targeted by British media outlets.

“My heart goes out to all the LGBT+ kids who have contacted me over the past week and the 6000 LGBT+ kids who contacted Childline for help in the past year.

“Pride is about resisting this kind of hate, not giving into it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byc-q_VgddO/

Munroe then called on her followers to donate to Mermaids, calling them an “amazing charity who actually stand behind their promises to trans and gender non-conforming/questioning children and their families.”

In a statement, the NSPCC said: “Munroe Bergdorf has supported the most recent phase of Childline’s campaign which aims to support children with LGBTQ+ concerns.

“Munroe has been referred to as a Childline Ambassador. At no point has she been an Ambassador for the Charity. She will have no ongoing relationship with Childline or the NSPCC.

“The NSPCC does not support, endorse or authorise any personal statements made by any celebrities who contribute to campaigns. Childline is available to children without condition to provide support whatever the nature of their concerns.”

Following the NSPCC’s statement, many called for the organisation to remove the Pride flag from their profile for bowing to the claims.

Writer Gemma Styles wrote: “Oh yes and I’m sure you never asked for her support of your campaign either? Absolutely appalling. Get rid of that rainbow flag if you don’t know what it means.”

Screenwriter Mark Hughes wrote: “You gave in to white nationalists & anti-trans bigots who harass her & lied a/b her.”

Another user noted how Munroe was dropped for “glamour” shots, and yet the same controversy was not created when Melinda Messenger was made an ambassador for the charity back in 2014.

Related: Munroe Bergdorf on dealing with hatred from transphobes and the media