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Heat magazine apologises to Jordan after printing sticker of disabled son Harvey
Last updated at 17:09pm on 28.11.07The editor of Heat magazine has apologised after printing a sticker of glamour model Jordan's disabled son Harvey.
The sticker, which appeared in the newest issue of the weekly celebrity publication, featured the five-year-old boy's head next to the words "Harvey wants to eat me".
Katie Price's son Harvey, whose father is Sunderland football player Dwight Yorke, suffers from septo-optic dysplasia, a rare condition which causes blindness and growth hormone deficiency.
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Model mum: Jordan is balancing caring for Harvey with two young babies
Complaints: The offensive sticker
After the magazine hit shelves on Tuesday, disabled campaign groups publicly condemned the EMAP publication, and over 30 complaints from the public have been filed with the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).
Critics claim the sticker breaks clause 12 of the PCC's code of practice, which states "all members of the press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual's physical or mental illness or disability".
The PCC contacted Ms Price's agents Can Associates to inform her of the complaints, but the model is yet to release a statement on the controversy.
However, her agents said Ms Price is planning to make a formal complaint to the PCC.
Liz Sayce, the chief executive of disability rights body RADAR, said: "Unfortunately bullying of disabled people, especially children, is endemic. Mocking people in print because they are different gives strength to the bullies and entrenches prejudice. Heat magazine should know better."
Heat's editor Mark Frith has made a public apology for any offence caused and said he will write a personal apology to Ms Price and her family.
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Family life: Jordan and her husband Peter Andre shortly before the birth of their daughter Princess Tiaamii
He said: "No offence was intended, but if any was caused we would like to apologise."
Ms Price, 29, and husband Peter Andre, 34, are also parents to Junior, two; and Princess Tiaamii, five months.
Reader views (20)
my grandson who is ten months old has septo optic dysplasia. harvey is a gorgeous looking boy just like my grandson, people are ignorant. Good luck to you harvey and the rest of your family.
- Lia Byng, Portsmouth England
I thought it was quite funny myself.
- Barry, Leeds, UK
It's a joke...why the hell should they get away with it...and why does anybody choose to read such rubbish! It's the same every week, same people, same boring gossiping stories.
- Kurt Hoyle, Hull
Totally outraged...Heat magazine have just reminded me why I have stopped buying it.
The editor needs to resign for encouraging the bullying of disabled children.
Makes me feel sick to the stomach that there must have been at least half a dozen educated adults who allowed this to be published...anything less than a resignation is unacceptable!
- Laura, Portsmouth
Their apology just adds insult to injury 'no offence was intended', so they still think it's not offensive to mock a disabled child? Pathetic. They should be made to go and spend some time helping to care for disabled children. That would humble them a bit. Idiots.
- Maryf, Harpenden
I bought Heat for a laugh this week to forward the Daniel Craig sticker to my friend - when I saw the Harvey sticker, I felt sick. Can't seriously believe they thought this was acceptable and think Mark Frith should resign. I won't be buying Heat again.
- Alison S, London
How low will Heat stoop - their actions are disgusting.
- Sally Norris, Slough
I think this is absolutely digusting. How on earth can they say they meant no offence - did they think for 1 second that Katie and Peter would sit back and have a chuckle to themselves!
Incredible.
What kind of society do we live in when a magazine openly bullies a disabled child in order to sell their rag?
- Debbie, Scotland
It was a ridiculous thing to do. I don't understand how Heat could honestly believe that any one would find that 'joke' funny in the slightest.
I will NEVER buy that magazine again.
- Sarah Louise, Sidmouth, Devon
You mean Jordan was actually able to read this?
- Steve Day, London
Maybe I'm being dim, but...I don't actually get Heat's 'joke' in the first place. Maybe that suggests it fails on more than one front - unfunny AND offensive? I may be dim, but the editorial staff of Heat magazine must be quite stupid.
- Jonathan, Osaka, Japan
Just don't buy the magazine again. I was browsing through the shelves today and wouldn't touch Heat with a barge pole now. This was just sick. That poor child is ill.
- Jk, London
How can they say "no offence was intended"?
Disgraceful.
- John Hopkins, Birmingham, UK
I think this is disgusting - Heat magazine has made so much money out of Jordan over the years... you'd think they would give this cheap stab a miss! I can't believe no-one at Heat thought this was wrong before it was published?
- Victoria, New York
I think as journalists and editors working very closely with popular celebrity personalities, we all have a responsibility to cater for our readers without compromising the personal privacy of the individuals whose lives are of intrigue to the wider public.
Reporting on celebrity culture and news within acceptable journalistic limits is fine but targeting minors, especially those with disabilities, is clearly crossing the line. We have made a formal complaint echoing the concerns of Katie Price and I am also sending her and Peter a personal letter expressing my support in this matter.
- Reena Combo, England
I used to love Heat, but after this I don't think I will ever buy it again. Disgraceful.
- A, London
I think it's absolutely disgusting that they thought putting something like that about a child would be OK. My daughter gets bullied on a daily basis due to weight issues which she is trying so hard to overcome. It shouldn't matter if a child has a disability or not, comments like this are not helpful, not funny and not right.
- Debbie, Warrington
Save our society, if you buy it...you're part of the problem.
- Daveb, London
I think that sticker is sick and is wrong on so many levels. Who in their right mind would publish something like that? I really feel for Katie and her family, no one should ever mock a disabled child.
- Ashleigh Stewart, Edinburgh
"No offence was intended, but if any was caused we would like to apologise."
Really? So they think they were justified in abusing a disabled child? By all means give wannabes like Jordan a good verbal battering but leave any minors out of it.
- Trevor Roll, London
