The homelessness charity Centrepoint has announced it will sever ties with celebrity ambassador Sharon Osbourne after she expressed support for a far-right rally organised by Tommy Robinson. The charity, which counts the Prince of Wales as its patron, distanced itself from Osbourne following comments she made on Instagram.
Osbourne's official account commented on a post about the 'unite the kingdom' rally, scheduled for 16 May in London, saying: 'See you at the march.' The rally is being organised by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Centrepoint responded by stating: 'This sort of event does not align with our values.' The charity added: 'Centrepoint has a proud history of supporting young people whatever their background, ethnicity or religion.' It emphasised its commitment to helping young people live without fear and access opportunities to leave homelessness behind.
The charity thanked Osbourne for her support on an Omaze campaign, which raised funds through a prize draw for a £5m home and £250,000 cash. However, Centrepoint clarified that she was only an ambassador for that specific campaign and is not an ongoing official ambassador. 'We have no plans to work together in the future,' it said.
Robinson, who has sought celebrity endorsements, welcomed Osbourne's support. The previous 'unite the kingdom' rally in September saw over 100,000 attendees, making it one of the largest far-right gatherings in British history. The event featured extremist speakers and a remote address from Elon Musk, which Downing Street condemned as 'dangerous and inflammatory.'
The Metropolitan Police have faced accusations of favouring the far-right demonstration over a pro-Palestine protest on the same day. A Met spokesperson denied this, stating decisions are based on safety and security, not political affiliations.
