Countdown’s Rachel Riley thanks fans for support on anti-Semitism row

Countdown’s Rachel Riley has thanked fans for their support after she blasted Jeremy Corbyn and George Galloway in a row on anti-Semitism.

The popular TV star, 32, told Galloway to ‘F*** off’ after he attacked her on Twitter.

She then accused Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn of sharing his platform with terrorists and ‘virulent anti-Semites’. 

Ms Riley, who is Jewish, has had a wave of online abuse since she uploaded a video challenging anti-Semitic chants at football matches in December.   

But appearing on ITV’s Lorraine today she thanked supporters for ‘seeing through the lies’ of those trying to discredit her fight against prejudice.

Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine today Rachel Riley thanked supporters for ‘seeing through the lies’ of those trying to discredit her fight against anti-Semitism 

She said: ‘I’ve been doing this for 10 years. 

‘I’m hoping I have banked up enough credibility with people that know me for silly words and putting up pictures of cats and dogs to know this is a serious thing for me. It needs a bit of light shone on it.’

Rachel Riley is pictured on Lorraine on Thursday morning 

Rachel Riley is pictured on Lorraine on Thursday morning 

Lorraine highlighted it is not just her who has been bombarded with trolls on Twitter, recalling the case of actress Tracy Ann Obermann who has also suffered for speaking out on anti-Semitism.

But Ms Riley added: ‘You mentioned the abuse, but we’ve had so much support.

‘I can’t thank people enough for seeing through the lies. The attempts to discredit are elaborate.’

Despite being nominated for a National Television Award for Eight Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown, she revealed she is missing the star-studded ceremony to attend a Government event on anti-Semitism.

She said: ‘I could choose between the NTAs, Manchester united event or going to Government to speak at an anti-Semitism event in the run-up to holocaust memorial day.’ 

Yesterday Channel 4 News’ Ways to Change the World podcast featured the Countdown star, where she claimed the Labour leader is sharing his bed with ‘virulent anti-Semites’. 

She told Krishnan Guru-Murthy: ‘He has shared an event on holocaust memorial day, called “Never Again From Auschwitz to Gaza”, he has shared platforms with terrorists, and the debate about who’s a terrorist comes up but they’re classified as a terrorist by the US by the UK by the EU. 

‘He’s sharing platforms with these people, he’s giving a legitimate voice to holocaust denial. 

‘Surely you can have compassion and fight for the Palestinian cause without sharing your bed with holocaust deniers and virulent anti-Semites.’

Speaking on Lorraine, Ms Riley said: 'I can't thank people enough for seeing through the lies. The attempts to discredit are elaborate.'

Speaking on Lorraine, Ms Riley said: ‘I can’t thank people enough for seeing through the lies. The attempts to discredit are elaborate.’

Ms Riley this week accused Jeremy Corbyn of 'giving a legitimate voice to holocaust denial' by 'sharing his platform with terrorists'

Ms Riley this week accused Jeremy Corbyn of ‘giving a legitimate voice to holocaust denial’ by ‘sharing his platform with terrorists’

She told the left-wing politician George Galloway to 'f*** off' amid an ongoing row about alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. The Countdown star has been vocal in her criticism of rising anti-Semitism and has been the victim of online abuse by far-left activists

She told the left-wing politician George Galloway to ‘f*** off’ amid an ongoing row about alleged anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. The Countdown star has been vocal in her criticism of rising anti-Semitism and has been the victim of online abuse by far-left activists

The Countdown star (left) and former Labour MP (right) became embroiled in the angry spat after Ms Riley called out what she sees as a rising tide of anti-Semitic sentiment

The Countdown star (left) and former Labour MP (right) became embroiled in the angry spat after Ms Riley called out what she sees as a rising tide of anti-Semitic sentiment

The Countdown star (left) and former Labour MP (right) became embroiled in the angry spat after Ms Riley called out what she sees as a rising tide of anti-Semitic sentiment 

Yesterday Ms Riley became embroiled in an angry spat when Galloway dismissed her criticism of growing anti-Semitic sentiment.  

Galloway, who was also a member of parliament for the Respect Party, slammed the Oxford University graduate, claiming she was ‘slandering’ the party. 

But the former MP for Bradford West was swiftly told to ‘f*** off’ by Ms Riley, who reiterated she would not abide ‘anti-Semitic scum.’ 

On the podcast, Ms Riley also addressed abuse on Twitter, saying: ‘Everyday, I’m on Twitter and I’m told I’m a liar, I’m smearing, I’ve not given any evidence, and these comments are at the bottom of a thread of evidence.’ 

Her comments were not directly aimed at Galloway, as the podcast was recorded on Monday.  

Ms Riley said: 'He’s sharing platforms with these people, he’s giving a legitimate voice to holocaust denial'

Ms Riley said: ‘He’s sharing platforms with these people, he’s giving a legitimate voice to holocaust denial’

Twitter wags even mocked up a Countdown scoreboard featuring the star's retort to Mr Galloway

Twitter wags even mocked up a Countdown scoreboard featuring the star’s retort to Mr Galloway

Oxford graduate Ms Riley was in no mood for Galloway's tweets, however, swiftly telling him where to go. 'Today is not the day I'm going to be polite to antisemite scum - to be explicit George Galloway' she said

Oxford graduate Ms Riley was in no mood for Galloway’s tweets, however, swiftly telling him where to go. ‘Today is not the day I’m going to be polite to antisemite scum – to be explicit George Galloway’ she said

The row heightened in recent days when Nick Hewer, outraged at the abuse Ms Riley was  receiving online for standing up to anti-Semitism, said he would no longer vote Labour - something he had done since 1964

The row heightened in recent days when Nick Hewer, outraged at the abuse Ms Riley was  receiving online for standing up to anti-Semitism, said he would no longer vote Labour – something he had done since 1964

He said: 'As an Anglo-Irish lapsed Catholic, raises to abhor bigotry, I am astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments fired at my friend and colleague Rachel Riley for calling out anti-Semitism in that once great Labour party which I have voted for since 1964. Not any more'

He said: ‘As an Anglo-Irish lapsed Catholic, raises to abhor bigotry, I am astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments fired at my friend and colleague Rachel Riley for calling out anti-Semitism in that once great Labour party which I have voted for since 1964. Not any more’

Galloway, who once appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also took aim at Stephen Fry after the former QI host tweeted that he stood with Ms Riley

Galloway, who once appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also took aim at Stephen Fry after the former QI host tweeted that he stood with Ms Riley

The feud bubbled over today when Galloway, referencing Ms Riley’s previous tweets, said: ‘Dumbfounding. She calls Chomsky (or Chomski as she styles him) an anti-Semite and slanders half the Labour Party as the same. #Corbyn #Labour.’ 

She replied: ‘F*** off George Galloway. Today is not the day I’m going to be polite to antisemite scum – to be explicit George Galloway.’ 

Galloway, who once appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also took aim at Stephen Fry, the ‘1980’s left-wing comedy icon’, for backing her instead of the Labour Party.  

He said: ‘To be clear stephenfry Are you “standing by” Rachel Riley off Countdown as an arithmetician or because you too consider NoamChomsky (aka Chomski) to be an Anti-Semite?’

The TV star said in recent weeks she has been confronted with ‘weird and aggressive posts about Israel and Zionists’ following a video she put out in December challenging anti-Jewish chants at football matches.

Ms Riley is pictured with Lorraine Kelly with a mock Countdown timer in the background 

Ms Riley is pictured with Lorraine Kelly with a mock Countdown timer in the background 

In a series of tweets acknowledging the vile abuse, she thanked colleagues who stood with her against the online bullying, including Countdown host Nick Hewer.

She tweeted: ‘Thanks to Nick Hewer and everyone else standing shoulder to shoulder with me and so many others, against bullying, and against Antisemitism. It’s so very much appreciated. BeLouder.’ 

In turn, Mr Hewer, who was outraged at the abuse Ms Riley was receiving, said he would no longer vote Labour – something he had done since 1964. 

He said he was ‘astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments’ aimed at her after she criticised Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism.

Pictured: Rachel Riley, 32, on ITV's Lorraine

Pictured: Rachel Riley, 32, on ITV’s Lorraine

‘As an Anglo-Irish lapsed Catholic, raises to abhor bigotry, I am astonished at the blunt assaults and trickster arguments fired at my friend and colleague Rachel Riley for calling out anti-Semitism in that once great Labour party which I have voted for since 1964. Not any more,’ he tweeted to his 230,000 followers.

Last year Ms Riley revealed how she had been called a ‘Tory, brainwashed and thick’ for criticising Jeremy Corbyn after he was accused of racism. 

Corbyn denies allegations of anti-Semitism in his party. 

Galloway, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also took aim at Stephen Fry after the former QI host tweeted that he stood with Ms Riley. Famously, on the then Channel 4 show, Galloway pretended to be a cat and crouched on all fours, purring and licking imaginary milk from the hands of the actress Rula Lenska. Dressed in a leotard, the left-wing firebrand smoked a cigar after having his head stroked and resting it on the lap of his fellow contestant

Galloway, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, also took aim at Stephen Fry after the former QI host tweeted that he stood with Ms Riley. Famously, on the then Channel 4 show, Galloway pretended to be a cat and crouched on all fours, purring and licking imaginary milk from the hands of the actress Rula Lenska. Dressed in a leotard, the left-wing firebrand smoked a cigar after having his head stroked and resting it on the lap of his fellow contestant

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