Denise Welch said the idea of trial by social media is “terrifying” after what she called the Huw Edwards “witch hunt”.
The Loose Women star spoke out after it emerged that the newsreader was the unnamed BBC presenter accused of paying a young person thousands of pounds in exchange for sexual images.
The story was first reported by The Sun and sparked massive speculation online, before Huw’s wife Vicky Flind identified him and said in a statement that the 61-year-old had been admitted to hospital and was “suffering from serious mental health issues”.
READ MORE: BBC News viewers rush to support Clive Myrie as he ‘sheds tear’ over Huw Edwards scandal
(Image: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Writing in the Mirror, Denise took aim at the “cesspit of social media” as she said that her main takeaway from the whole scandal was her “sheer horror” at the way that accusations could go unchecked and that trolls could make up unfounded theories.
The TV star addressed the way that other male BBC presenters had had the finger falsely pointed at them amid the controversy and said that it had been a “rampant witch hunt”.
“It terrifies all of us in the industry,” she said.
“Anyone with a grudge against you can come out and make shocking, cruel and untrue comments that can spiral hysterically out of control.”
(Image: Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/REX/Shutterstock)
The Sun first reported the accusations about the then-unnamed presenter early in July.
Some other male BBC stars, including Eurovision presenter Rylan and Match Of The Day’s Gary Lineker, publicly stated on social media that it was not them as people started to speculate and gossip flooded platforms such as Twitter.
Then last week Huw was named by his wife.
(Image: ITV1)
She released a statement saying that he was the presenter in question and that he had been admitted to hospital.
She also that “once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published”.
The police have since said that no criminal act took place.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
