Good Morning Britain has received 508 Ofcom complaints after Susanna Reid’s controversial remarks about Scotland’s World Cup bank holiday sparked fury from viewers.
Susanna’s comments sparked hundreds of Ofcom complaints (Image: ITV)
Good Morning Britain has been the subject of hundreds of Ofcom complaints remarks made by Susanna Reid which sparked outrage among viewers.
The the program received 508 complaints regarding the episode that aired on June 9, according to the regulator.
In a statement to The Daily Record, Ofcom confirmed “the complaints relating to comments made during a discussion about the Scottish World Cup holiday”.
The special edition of Good Morning Britain saw Ed Balls and co-presenter Susanna discuss reports that Scotland would be given a bank holiday to qualify for the World Cup.
Ed noted on the ITV daytime show: “This morning, in our five o’clock meeting, Susanna said, ‘I can’t believe it, the game is on Sunday morning and they’re getting a bank holiday (more than) 24 hours later’,” reports Ed. the mirror.
“I said, ‘What?’ I couldn’t believe it. It never occurred to me that this was happening.”
Commenting on audience feedback, Susanna said: “It’s really outrageous. I mean, how long does it take Scots to get over the fact that they’ve played their first game?”
Viewers were left upset after listening and Susanna subsequently offered an apology.
One had seethed: “So many anti-Scottish comments from your presenters and guests this morning. Do you realize your show is being shown on Scottish TV? Sadly.”
Another said: “Extremely anti-Scottish. Not everyone gets it and not everyone wants it. I don’t even like football but thought your comments were uncalled for!!!”
Another seething viewer said: “Not everyone gets it. I see I’m jumping on the anti-Scotland bandwagon.”
ITV also released a statement following the backlash, which read, according to The National Scot: “The editors feel discussion of the fact that some football fans would drink alcohol while watching the match is something that would be referenced in the discussion of any home country’s participation in an international tournament.
“No narrow-mindedness was intended towards Scottish fans in particular – it was more a reflection of football culture in the UK.”
It continued: “We are aware that this coverage has been distorted on social media by short edited clips that do not represent the full four minutes of discussion. After reviewing the full segments, our sense is that the issue of drinking and football would have been raised in a discussion about each home nation having an extra day off work after a game. However, we note that such discussions were not nationally focused, and this was not nationally stereotyped. The discussion.”
The publication noted that ITV also said that the Good Morning Britain editorial team had “concerns about Ofcom’s rules regarding generally accepted standards, due accuracy and due impartiality, but, having regard to the light-hearted nature of the news review discussion and the discussion that followed later in the programme, believes that the program complied with Ofcom’s standards”.
Susanna later issued an apology, admitting she had left fans “irate” and was accused of “jealousy”.
After welcoming two Scottish broadcasters on the show earlier this week, who asked Susanna about her comments, the former BBC Breakfast star said: “My Scottish ancestors would be turning in their graves, I can only apologise.
“Let me say it’s outrageous that not everyone in Scotland has today off as a bank holiday.”
Good Morning Britain is broadcast on weekdays from 06.00 on ITV1 and ITVX.
