'What happened was not funny' Liz Truss breaks silence after storming off stage following lettuce prank

14 August 2024, 15:19 | Updated: 14 August 2024, 15:59

The former PM has broken her silence following a prank involving a lettuce-themed banner
The former PM has broken her silence following a prank involving a lettuce-themed banner. Picture: Social media/Alamy

By Flaminia Luck

Liz Truss has broken her silence following a prank which saw a banner featuring a lettuce lowered onto stage while she spoke.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

At an event last night, the former Prime Minister was interrupted mid-speech with a banner featuring a lettuce with googly eyes and a quote saying "I crashed the economy".

She then stormed off the stage and did not return.

On Wednesday morning, Truss responded to the stunt saying: "What happened last night was not funny.

"Far-left activists disrupted the event, which then had to be stopped for security reasons.

"This is done to intimidate people and suppress free speech. I won't stand for it.

"Would we see the same reaction if the activists were far-right?"

The remote-controlled lettuce banner appeared behind the former Prime Minister during an event
The remote-controlled lettuce banner appeared behind the former Prime Minister during an event. Picture: LedByDonkeys

The ex-PM - who lasted 49 days - has been associated with lettuces ever since the Daily Star livestreamed an iceberg lettuce to see if it would outlast her premiership back in October 2022. It did.

The activist group said: "We just dropped in on Liz Truss’s pro-Trump speaking tour with a remote-controlled lettuce banner.

"She didn’t find it funny."

Read more: Elon Musk and JK Rowling named by Imane Khelif in cyberbullying lawsuit after Olympic boxing gold amid gender row

Read more: Man attacked and left for dead by unsupervised mentally ill patient in privatised rehabilitation centre

On 14 October 2022, the Daily Star started a livestream of the iceberg lettuce next to a framed photograph of Liz Truss, who had recently been appointed prime minister.

This act followed an opinion piece in The Economist that likened the expected brevity of Truss's premiership to the shelf life of a lettuce due to her expected resignation amid deep financial and political crises.

She then announced her resignation six days later, before the lettuce had wilted.

The newspaper subsequently declared the lettuce "victorious" over Truss, and spawned a meme forever.

The livestream was broadcast in October 2022
The livestream was broadcast in October 2022. Picture: DailyStar
A lettuce covers the face of Liz Truss on a campaign advertising board near Wisbech during the 2024 General Election
A lettuce covers the face of Liz Truss on a campaign advertising board near Wisbech during the 2024 General Election. Picture: Alamy

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Roberta Flack

Tributes flood in for Roberta Flack, 'Killing Me Softly' singer and R&B icon

Peter Reynolds, 79 and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban.

Taliban issues major update on British couple arrested in Afghanistan

Manchester United have announced a slew of redundancies.

Manchester United to make up to 200 more staff redundant as Sir Jim Ratcliffe axes free lunches

"America", a fully-working solid gold toilet, created by artist Maurizio Cattelan, is seen at Blenheim Palace on September 12, 2019 in Woodstock, England.

Blenheim Palace £2.8m solid gold toilet ‘stolen in just five minutes’ by thieves with sledgehammers in ‘audacious raid’

The Case for Optimism in Ukraine by Lubov Chernukhin

The Case for Optimism in Ukraine

US President Donald Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2025.

Ukraine war could end ‘within weeks’ Trump claims as he warns it ‘may lead to WW3’ if not stopped

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy hopes war will end 'this year' as US votes with Russia against UN resolution condemning invasion

Pope Francis Delivers His Weekly Audience At The Vatican

Pope 'resumes some work' after 'slight improvement' in health as night-time prayers begin

Sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti.

Cause of death revealed after missing sisters found in Scotland river

Almost a third of children have refused to go to school, at least one, in the past year.

Education secretary warns of school absence 'epidemic' as a third of children have tried to miss school this year

Prosper admitted killing his mother and two siblings

Teenager who admitted killing his mother and siblings in Luton flat was planning a school shooting, police reveal

Miquita Oliver shar

TV presenter Miquita Oliver reveals first kiss was with infamous ISIS Beatle 'Jihadi George'

Roberta Flack On Stage At Park West

'Killing Me Softly' singer and R&B icon Roberta Flack dies aged 88

Arsenal fans celebrate after they score, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Met police officer sacked for 'football hooliganism' after throwing flare at Arsenal match

Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano.

Pictured: 'Sweet, kind and generous' girl, 3, killed in crash involving van and tram as man, 36, arrested

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA gives major update on massive 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth and it's good news