The Oscar-winning actress also told US television viewers that Irish and Scottish visitors to the island are tortured and shot.
Appearing on The Late Late Show, Thompson engaged in a conversation about holiday destinations. Craig Ferguson, the presenter, said he was visiting Catalina, an island off the California coast.
"It's kind of like the Isle of Wight," Ferguson explained, to which Thompson replied: "Oh, so they stone homosexuals there? Nice."
To roars of laughter from the audience, she went on: "I think they are still allowed to flog them, which of course some of them enjoy. I think they are allowed to shoot Irish or Scottish people if they arrive on the island - it is still in the rules. They are allowed to torture people. It's lovely, you should go."
Thompson's comments were clearly made in jest - and garnered some handy publicity as she promotes her latest US release, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang - but that cut little ice on the Isle of Wight.
David Pugh, council leader on the island, said: "It's a great shame that someone with her profile should make such ridiculous claims. Presumably Emma Thompson made these comments to get some laughs on the chat show.
"The island is a very diverse and welcoming place, as testified by the many millions of visitors that holiday here each year.
"Her claims are much ado about nothing and as outlandlish as some of the fiction in the Harry Potter films she has been working on. If there was a Golden Globe award for Best Fictional Claims on a Chat Show, Emma Thompson would win it hands down."
Isle of Wight Tory MP Andrew Turner also weighed in to the debate. "The Isle of Wight is known as a friendly and welcoming tourist destination and if Emma Thompson had ever been here she would know that. I hope she said this in a light-hearted way and it will be taken that way because it's clearly rubbish.
"We would like to extend an invite to her to visit and discover how friendly the island really is."
Isle of Wight residents were unamused. Ann Neale, 68, from Newport, said: "I hope this bizarre statement doesn't stop people coming to the island. It's extremely insulting. I've got Irish blood and no-one's ever taken a shot at me."
Clive Richards, 67, director of the Isle of Wight Scottish Fiddlers, said Thompson's remarks were "insulting baloney." Andy Harper, 33, assistant manager at the 'gay friendly' Winterbourne Country House hotel in Bonchurch, added: "I've never experienced any sort of prejudice. If it is a joke, she certainly seems to have a very warped sense of humour."
Courtesy of the Telegraph.
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