Friend immersed in public humiliation (4)

I believe the answer is:

chum

'friend' is the definition.
(chum is a kind of friend)

'immersed in public humiliation' is the wordplay.
'immersed in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'CHUM' can be found hidden inside 'public humiliation'.

(Other definitions for chum that I've seen before include "Good friend" , "Pal, buddy" , "Close friend (colloq.)" , "Informally, a close friend" , "Salmon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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