Cat Deeley has been forced to offer an apology on This Morning after offending viewers with an epilepsy comment.
The ITV daytime show host was joined by Ben Shephard on Tuesday (June 18) when she paused the show to say sorry for causing offence with the jokey comment. Things got a little out of hand when Cat and Ben prepared to interview songstress Meghan Trainor on Monday (June 17).
Cat was dancing along to Meghan’s hit All About That Bass on yesterday’s episode, as she told Ben: “Nothing to see here.” He quizzed her: “Are you all right?” as Cat replied: “Yeah, I’m just having a seizure.” Ben giggled along with her as both introduced the interview with Meghan.
READ MORE: ‘No wonder Taylor Swift has to wee in a bucket – the Eras Tour almost killed me!’
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
Fans were left fuming as the show progressed without an apology, with one X user writing: “Surely, there should be an apology about the epilepsy comment yesterday, it’s not a joke and I’m shocked that you are acting as if nothing has happened..”
Someone else said: “Wow @catdeeley @thismorning choose your words more wisely!! You really think seizures are funny!? What a stupid thing to say and then snigger at!” As another user agreed: “I’m actually disgusted by @catdeeley’s comment on @thismorning. Seizures are definitely not anything to joke about & as someone with epilepsy I find it very upsetting.”
Another X user said: “This Morning, she needs a telling off and as someone with epilepsy I await her apology! Epilepsy isn’t a joke and shouldn’t be treated as one!”
Even The Epilepsy Society has spoken out about the viral moment, tweeting: “Seizures are no laughing matter for people with #epilepsy @catdeeley. Please do better and educated yourselves about this difficult and poorly understood condition, @thismorning.”
But just minutes into Tuesday’s show, Cat took a sombre moment to apologise for the comment. She said: “First of all, I just wanted to apologise to anyone who was offended yesterday when I made a lighthearted comment about my dancing style.
“It really wasn’t supposed to cause any upset to anybody, but I can see why that might have been the case. I do apologise, I’m very sorry.”
Ben added: “It would never be our intention, would it?” as Cat agreed: “It didn’t come from that place at all.” Ben was quick to change the subject afterwards, telling viewers: “Okay, let’s talk about our top stories!”
(Image: ITV)
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
But fans on social media were divided over her apology, with one writing: “Cat Deeley’s non-apology for her epilepsy ‘joke’ on #thismorning was not good enough. Still calling it a ‘lighthearted comment’. Having an epilepsy charity criticise you should be enough of a hint that you’ve said something more than just a ‘lighthearted comment'”.
Someone else thanked Cat for the apology, writing: “That’s okay Cat!” as someone else agreed: “Cat addressed it and has apologised!”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
