Heat magazine apologises to Jordan after printing sticker of disabled son Harvey

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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The 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.

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