Dies age 63
Godley dies in the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. In a video posted on social media, Godley’s daughter Ashley says:
I wanted to tell you face to face because it felt very much what she would have wanted. She went peacefully and I want to say a big thank you to all the staff at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice….I believe in my heart of hearts that she felt every bit of love you sent to her. I think it kept her going, genuinely we got her longer because of all the support and the love in the world.
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Sturgeon hired Godley despite Yousaf ‘divisive’ warning
A freedom of information response shows Sturgeon approved Godley’s £10,000 Covid commercial fee, despite Yousaf raising concerns. On August 30, Mr Yousaf’s private secretary emailed the First Minister’s Office to say that My Yousaf felt using Ms Godley could “be divisive” and “there may be many people who purposely switch off if she is fronting it”. Yousaf wanted an unnamed male celebrity to front the public health campaign instead as he would “be a better candidate, given his broader appeal”. Sturgeon’s office replied:
FM (First Minister) is content to clear but agrees with Cab Sec comments. FM is very supportive of Janey Godley and she has been hugely helpful to our Covid messaging but she is perceived to be on one side of the political debate in Scotland and so may not speak to the maximum number of people.
Sturgeon sends message of support to Godley
Sturgeon tweets her support to Godley.
Sending love and strength
Sending love and strength @JaneyGodley https://t.co/b5JZgtGJST
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 19, 2021
Reveals ovarian cancer diagnosis from hospital
In a Twitter post, Godley says that she is being treated for ovarian cancer after being diagnosed the previous day
I’m really sorry I can’t make the Musselburgh and Edinburgh shows this weekend, it’s the very last dates of the tour and the tour has been so brilliant and so well attended and successful. Unfortunately while I was doing the tour I, unbeknownst to me, had ovarian cancer. I want to thank everyone for all their support and all their help and for coming out and sharing so much laughter with me. Onto the next step of the journey, and what is that journey? I don’t know if I’m going to be one of these people who battle bravely and fight every step, I don’t know, that doesn’t feel how I’ve been the last day where I’ve done nothing but cry and cry and cry. But I’m going to use science, and technology and I’m going to try and cope with this next step of my journey.
Please have a listen #MentalHealthMatters and look after each other pic.twitter.com/D4Khg0K6Bs
— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) November 19, 2021
Sturgeon on Godley comments: ‘These things happen’
Sturgeon comments on Godley’s offensive comments:
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.
When asked about the decision to scrap the videos:
These things happen. The important thing is that action was taken. The most important thing to me from the start of this pandemic has been the integrity of our public health message and that has involved difficult decisions from me over the past 18 months and that’s the priority we have attached to this particular incident…Janey has apologised – I think she has been pretty straightforward and dignified in her apology. She’s a comedian – as she said herself she thought it gave her licence to say things that she now accepts were completely out of order and unacceptable. When people make mistakes, the culture we live in, the climate we live in these days is pretty unforgiving. 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 where that is required. But perhaps we should all recognise that none of us are infallible.
Dropped from COVID ad campaign
Godley is dropped from The Scottish Government’s ‘Let’s Stop The Spike’ ad campaign.
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.
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=369321734740168
Apologises for offensive comments
Godley apologises for her offensive comments.
I have used phrases, words, comments with horrifically despicable undertones and you can’t just pass that off as comedy. I accept any criticism that comes my way..If I don’t own the shame of these phrases and words, I would be disingenuous to everybody who has ever supported me. I’m sorry, I will be better and I can’t apologise enough.