An academic kicked out of the Arts Society after calling the Duchess of Sussex “the dreaded Meghan” is taking legal action against the charity.
Dr Anne Anderson, an honorary professor at the University of Exeter, was accused of using racist language when she made a reference online to people “of a colourful disposition”.
She was later cleared of having any racist intent but a panel declared her comments inappropriate.
The Arts Society directed her to write letters of apology and go on a diversity training course but she refused and was stripped of her accreditation as a lecturer, losing numerous contracts.
Breach of contract
The 65-year-old has now instructed lawyers and is pursuing legal action for breach of contract.
The controversy arose in March 2021, when Dr Anderson delivered an online lecture to members of the society’s Truro branch entitled How did we get Ikea? Scandinavian Modern 1880-1960.
The event took place five days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Before it began, Dr Anderson was chatting to her online audience from her living room and referred to the Duchess as “the dreaded Meghan” during what she has since described as an “off-the-cuff” conversation.
In discussing the volume of media commentary it had generated, she added: “You couldn’t turn the television on without some person of a colourful disposition having a moan about something.”
Two people complained.
Days later Dr Anderson, who has given around 25…
