NICOLA Sturgeon has spoken out over the “horrific” tweets by comedian Janey Godley that have resurfaced over the last few days.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, the First Minister called the historic tweets “completely beyond the pale”.
Sturgeon added that the Government has prioritised Scotland’s Covid public health message after Godley was axe from its Covid ad campaign.
Social media users have been unearthing old posts from Godley’s account, and criticising her language towards disabled people, Chernobyl victims, and black celebrities.
READ MORE: Janey Godley removed from Scottish Government Covid ad campaign after tweet row
A number of tweets have been unearthed showing the Glaswegian comedian, who is known for her voice-overs of Sturgeon’s Covid-19 briefings, which were described as “racist” with Godley herself labelling them “offensive” and “hurtful”.
Good Morning Scotland host Martin Geissler said: “You must be furious. Your government didn't do due diligence on Janey Godley, a whole raft of comments she herself described as horrifically despicable.
"You made her the face of a government campaign and paid her 12 grand for the job is not a great look is it?”
Sturgeon replied: “The most important thing to me from the start of this pandemic has been the integrity over public health message.
“And that's the priority we have attached to this particular incident.
“Janey has apologised. I think she's been straightforward and dignified in her apology.
"She's a comedian, as she said herself, she thought that gave her licence to say things that she now accepts were completely out of order and unacceptable.”
Godley tweeted last night that she has now given the money she made from the ads to the STV Appeal.
%image('12592618', type="article-full", alt="Janey Godley is known for her voice overs of Nicola Sturgeon's (pictured) Covid briefings")
Geissler then asked the First Minister if she would be as forgiving if Godley was an opponent.
Sturgeon said: “That might be a legitimate line of questioning if we had decided not to drop the advert.
“I get a lot of abuse on social media. I know that when people make mistakes, the climate that we live in, the culture we live in these days is pretty unforgiving.
“And therefore, I'm a great believer that when people make mistakes, and I apply this to myself as well, it's really important to hold your hands up to it and apologise for your that is required.
“But perhaps we should all recognise that none of us are infallible.
"Now, the tweets that were brought to my attention yesterday, were completely unacceptable, completely beyond the pale, I would not in any way, shape or form, seek to defend them.
READ MORE: Janey Godley issues statement as 'racist' tweets about black celebrities emerge
“The most important thing is we don't allow commentary and debate, legitimate and understandable debate, around this to get in the way of a public health messages. And that, for me, is the most important principle here.”
Sturgeon said there were no plans for Godley to be used in another government ad campaign.
A Scottish Government spokesperson previously told The National: “A series of unacceptable tweets by Janey Godley have been brought to our attention and, while she has rightly apologised, trust in our public health messages at this time is paramount.
"We have therefore taken the decision to withdraw any further campaign material in which Ms Godley features. The material will be discontinued immediately on our own channels and withdrawn as soon as possible from external media.”
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