Centrepoint, a charity dedicated to aiding the homeless, has announced its decision to end its association with celebrity ambassador Sharon Osbourne following her public endorsement of a far-right gathering organized by Tommy Robinson.
The organization, which counts the Prince of Wales as its patron, felt compelled to distance itself from comments made by Osbourne. Earlier this week, the television personality signaled her intention to participate in an event in London arranged by Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
In response to an Instagram post publicizing the “unite the kingdom” demonstration, Osbourne’s official account posted the remark: “See you at the march.”
Centrepoint, which had recently partnered with Osbourne for a fundraising initiative, stated in response: “This sort of event does not align with our values.”
The charity further elaborated: “Centrepoint is built on a proud legacy of supporting young individuals, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or faith. For young people in this country to flourish, we must ensure our society allows them to live without fear and provides access to the opportunities necessary for education, employment, and escaping homelessness.”
The charity expressed its appreciation to Osbourne for her involvement in its Omaze campaign, which generated funds by offering entries into a sweepstakes-style drawing to win a £5 million property overlooking Lake Windermere, along with £250,000 in cash.
It stated: “Although Sharon lent her support to this particular campaign, where she was referred to as an ambassador, as is customary for Omaze prize draws, she is not an official, ongoing ambassador for Centrepoint, and we have no intentions of collaborating in the future.”
Robinson, known for seeking celebrity endorsements, has celebrated Osbourne’s backing for the rally scheduled for May 16th.
The previous “unite the kingdom” rally, held last September, drew an estimated attendance of over 100,000 individuals, making it potentially the largest far-right demonstration of its kind in British history.
Alongside various extremist speakers who addressed the crowd, Elon Musk also spoke remotely at the event, prompting Downing Street to criticize his use of “dangerous and inflammatory” language.
Musk told attendees: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that’s the truth, I think.”
The Metropolitan Police have faced allegations of favoritism towards this year’s far-right demonstration compared to a pro-Palestine protest occurring on the same day in London. A Met spokesperson countered that decisions regarding demonstrations are based on safety and security concerns, not political affiliations.
Osbourne has been contacted for her comments.