Good Morning Britain has been slapped with hundreds of Ofcom complaints over “rude” remarks made by co-host Richard Madeley to the President of Guyana.
Madeley, 67, clashed with Irfaan Ali last week after the South American leader claimed Britain still benefits from “the greatest indignity to the human being”, before demanding compensation over its historical role in the slave trade.
It prompted Madeley to angrily hit out: “Why should somebody who maybe had an ancestor seven or eight generations ago, long before they were a twinkle in their great-great-great grandparents’ eye, why should they have to pay now for what an ancient ancestor did?
READ MORE: GMB’s Susanna Reid told ‘get out of here’ by Richard Madeley minutes into show starting
READ MORE: GMB’s Susanna Reid panics as she’s forced to apologise on air after live blunder
He continued, ranting: “Or why should they apologise for what an ancestor did centuries ago? Why should they still carry that burden?”
The former Richard and Judy star then angrily thumped his desk, asking Ali: “You think the British Royal Family should make a big gesture, don’t you? Would you like them to give you a Palace?”
The president replied in a calmer manner: “Well no, we don’t want the British to hand over a palace that we built.
“If you go to many of the palaces in Britain, you’ll see the lovely hard work from Guyana. You will see the sweat, tears and blood of the slaves who were exploited, and the revenue that was earnt from the exploitation. So we’re not asking for a palace; we’re asking for justice.”
Madeley soon found himself under fire, meanwhile, with 334 viewers filing complaints to the TV watchdog over his “patronising” treatment of Ali.
At the time, many who had tuned into the ITV show took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise his actions. .
One wrote: “Just watching Richard Madeley, getting very stupidly animated about almost anything & everything. Please calm down, & take a leaf from Susanna’s book mate! Watch your blood pressure!!”
Another added: “When Madeley gets handed his a** he bottles it because he can’t cope.”
A third echoed: “Incandescent Madeley slams his hand down at a President as he gets roasted.”
And a fourth declared: “Richard Madeley, a breakfast news show host, talking down to and mocking the president of another country with a pompous fake laugh. The disrespect and entitlement is insane.”
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here.
Earlier this year Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rejected calls by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy for the government to apologise and pay reparations for the UK’s role in slavery.
He said in April: “What I think the focus should be on is of course understanding our history and all its part and not running away from it. But right now making sure that we’re a country that is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds.”
Sunak added: “Trying to unpick our history isn’t the right way forward and isn’t we will focus our energy on.”
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
