Marcus Rashford thanks Man City Twitter account in row with Katie Hopkins over school meals campaign
Manchester City have shown their support for Manchester United striker-turned-campaigner Marcus Rashford by hitting back at a claim by Katie Hopkins that she ‘looks hot’ in their kit.
United star Rashford, who was hailed a hero for his campaign to persuade the Government to ensure around 1.3 million children will receive free school meal vouchers during the holidays, told United’s arch-rivals that they were part of ‘a city united’ after they dismissed an image posted by Hopkins showing her in a City kit.
After questioning the Government’s decision in a string of provocative tweets, Hopkins posted a mocked-up photo showing her playing against Rashford as a City player in the Manchester derby.
Marcus Rashford has been united with Manchester City in a row over school meals on Twitter
City distanced themselves from Katie Hopkins in a reply to her tweet about their club colours
‘I look hot in blue,’ she tweeted, causing City’s official account to reply: ‘Not in our blue,’ followed by a hashtag saying: ‘Well done Marcus.’
The successful campaign by Rashford sparked calls for the England star to be knighted but Hopkins responded to the Government’s decision to reinstate the free meals by asking him: ‘Do you think women should think about how they are going to feed a child before they decide to have it?
‘I do not want to pay to feed other people’s kids. You are welcome to.’
City suggested their kit did not suit Hopkins while offering their congratulations to Rashford
Hopkins’ remarks caused uproar on social media and reignited a row with Crystal Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt, who heaped praise on Rashford by telling the journalist: ‘He’s done more for this country in 24 hours than you have your entire life. Bow before a king.’
The popular Crystal Palace defender’s reply earned more than 65,000 likes and retweets on the platform, where he has almost 162,000 followers.
Van Aanholt described Hopkins as a ‘clown’ and called her views on the Black Lives Matter campaign ‘nonsense’ last week, warning that it would be ’embarrassing for her if a football player schooled her “super educated brain”.’
After Van Aanholt wished her ‘happy trolling, racist’, Hopkins replied: ‘I am a white Christian Conservative. You may kneel and kiss my ring.’
The Premier League regular responded by telling Hopkins, who has more than a million followers: ‘I am Dutch black, I’m also Christian (not that colour or Religion has anything to do with it). As for your ring, you are welcome to come to Selhurst and kiss my big toe…I’ll wait.’
The pair have continued to exchange barbs since then, with Van Aanholt claiming: ‘I would never let her wash my feet. She can clip my toe nails after a 90-minute game, though.’
He also accused her of lying over details about the recent anti-racism protests in London and taunted her by saying that his chances of a political career were greater than hers, retweeting a mocked-up photo showing him taking on Hopkins in a boxing match.
Hopkins replied: ‘Get the contract, boy. I will sign it and see you and your flaccid chipolata in the ring. I am waiting.’
Van Aanholt has likened Hopkins’ views to American white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan, calling her ‘KKKatie Hopkins’ and insisting to a fan who advised him not to become embroiled in a row: ‘Nah – if she out here talking that c***, she should be held accountable.’
