TV presenter Cat Deeley is under fire for making an “offensive” and “appalling” joke about having a seizure on This Morning.
The star, who became the ITV daytime show’s fixed host alongside Ben Shephard earlier this year, is being criticised for making the comment on Monday’s episode (17 June).
During the live broadcast, Deeley and Shephard were welcoming viewers back after a break and were about to introduce singer Meghan Trainor, who was in the studio.
As Trainor’s song “All About That Bass” could be heard playing in the background, Deeley started dancing.
Shephard turned to look at Deeley, who continued to dance and said: “Nothing to see here.”
When Deeley’s co-host jokingly asked her if she was OK, she replied: “Yeah I’m fine. Just having a seizure. Welcome back.”
Deeley’s comment has been branded “cruel”, “stupid” and “offensive”, and multiple epilepsy awareness groups have called out the presenter, urging her to educate herself about the condition.
“Seizures are no laughing matter for people with #epilepsy@catdeeley,” Epilepsy Society wrote on X/Twitter: “Please do better and educate yourselves about this difficult and poorly understood condition, @thismorning.”
Young Epilepsy added: “We’re extremely disappointed to hear @catdeeley on @ThisMorning making a joke of seizures. There are more than 100,000 children and young people who live with epilepsy in the UK. Seizures significantly impact their life – they are not something to be ridiculed or joked about.”
Epilepsy advocate Simon Privett wrote: When we have celebrities making inappropriate remarks and references about epilepsy, is it any wonder some people with a diagnosis are afraid of stigma and misunderstanding? Need some awareness training @catdeeley @ITV ? It’s inappropriate and offensive.
Meanwhile, Epilepsy Action posted: “Your careless use of language has real consequences for people with epilepsy who already face so much stigma.”
Others called the remark “disgusting” and an “absolute disgrace”, with one irate viewer posting: “Epilepsy is NOT a laughing matter.”
Find more reactions to Deeley’s comment below:
On @thismorning today @catdeeley was dancing & she made a joke about having a seizure, trust me she would know if she was about to have a seizure, it’s not a pleasant experience. Making jokes about epilepsy are not clever or funny especially on national TV. #EpilepsyAwareness
— 💜AmyDanielle1994💜 (@ADanielle1994) June 17, 2024
Wow!!! @catdeeley dancing and saying she is having a seizure! Is she for real! 😡 @thismorning she needs a telling off and as someone with epilepsy I await her apology! #thismorning epilepsy isn’t a joke and shouldn’t be treated as one! 🤬
— Michelle (@mksmjp) June 17, 2024
hey everyone! I don’t generally post twice in a day but this needs addressing
People die from seizures and epilepsy is a life threatening condition and I am so appalled at Cat Deeley and This Morning for airing this, there needs to be more awareness for epilepsy pic.twitter.com/nDmGzGoS8P— Pippa Meadowcroft (@MeadowcrftPippa) June 17, 2024
Hi @catdeeley,
Please can you take a moment to think about what it might be like for a person with epilepsy to see you mocking them? I’m hoping this was an inadvertent error, but please know this is ableist and inappropriate. https://t.co/F4yEVL1klg— Snigdha (@snigskitchen) June 17, 2024
You really think seizures are amusing @catdeeley
I fail to see how the next one could kill me, is in the least bit amusing. I thought we had come a long way. Obviously not. https://t.co/qFmM0entyz— Just me. (@Welshtabby) June 17, 2024
The Independent has contacted Deeley and This Morning for comment.
After being appointed as host of This Morning, Deeley called the daytime show “a national institution”, adding: “This Morning is and always will be the viewer’s show. Ben and I both know how much people love it, and with the help of an amazing team of people, we’re going to do our best to take care of it.”
Her hiring alongside Shephard came after a tumultuous year for the show due to a behind-the-scenes furore surrounding Phillip Schofield. Holly Willoughby quit the show months later.
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