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Comedian Janey Godley says sorry for previous 'horridly offensive' posts on Twitter

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 14: Comedian Janey Godley attends The Forth Awards 2019 at Usher Hall on November 14, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)
Comedian Janey Godley has apolgsed for hurtful comments she has made on Twitter in the past. (Getty Images)

Comedian Janey Godley has apologised for "horridly offensive" remarks she has made on social media in the past.

The Scottish stand-up and actor – a regular panellist on Have I Got News For You – regularly voicing her opinions on politics and freedom of speech on Twitter, as well as sharing abuse she receives from trolls.

Now Godley, 60, has published a statement on her Twitter account saying: "There are tweets from my past social media that are horridly offensive, I believe in progress not perfection and I am far from perfect.

"People have every right to go through my social media and see what values I hold and to find hurtful phrases and statements is shocking, I am deeply sorry to everyone I offended.

“Comedy is no excuse to use disgusting and hurtful words that affect people and I know many of you expected better of me. I apologise for every single word that upset people, I should have blocked and reported the accounts that threatened me and not replied with abhorrent heckles."

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She added: “There are fake tweets created to damage my reputation but the ones I wrote I take responsibility for.

“During this pandemic, I tried to keep everyone's spirits up and I will continue to do my best to keep that going.”

Handout photo issued by Bafta of Janey Godley at the Bafta Scotland awards. Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwar and actress Glenda Jackson are among those to be honoured at a special socially-distanced Bafta Scotland night.
Janey Godley is known for her outspoken comedy. (PA)

Godley also shared a screenshot of two racist tweets attributed to her and said: "These are fake tweets please report @policescotland @TwitterSupport."

The Traces actor is a supporter of the SNP and Scottish independence and often shares videos of Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon, accompanied by parody voiceovers.

In 2016 Godley was pictured standing outside Donald Trump's Turnberry Golf resort with a sign that read: "Trump is a ****".

In the past she has hit back at trolls online, including one who called her a "two-faced hypocritical witch" and another who called her "ugly" and "horrific to watch".

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 05: Comedian Janey Godley joins thousands of people take part in the All Under One Banner march and rally in support for Scottish independence on October 5, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The organisers were holding their final major rally of the year in the Scottish capital following previous demonstrations in Glasgow, Oban and Aberdeen. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Political campaigner Janey Godley taking part in a march for Scottish independence. (Getty Images)

Earlier this year US TV presenter Chrissy Teigen apologised after offensive tweets she had made as a teenager resurfaced.

Disney fired writer-director James Gunn from Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2018 after tweets he had made in the past were brought to light. He was later rehired.

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In 2017 YouTube star Jack Maynard was forced to pull out of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and issued a public apology when it emerged he had previously posted inappropriate tweets targeted at young women.

And YouTube star Zoella issued an apology in 2017 for derogatory tweets from her past that had emerged.

Watch: Jo Brand shut down a sexist joke on Have I Got News For You