Vanessa Feltz guest apologises after ‘disgraceful’ remarks spark almost 2,000 complaints

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Up Next

Previous Page Next Page

Vanessa Feltz’s talk show has been hit with nearly 2,000 Ofcom complaints after a guest called a mother ‘selfish’ for wanting to breastfeed.

Earlier this year, the 63-year-old announced she was leaving This Morning after 33 years.

The broadcaster was a regular contributor to ITV, but now has her own show on Channel 5, which she has described as a ‘politics-free zone’.

However, after inviting fashion designer Karen Millen onto her sofa to speak, her programme has been hit by a wave of complaints from viewers.

Vanessa reportedly asked Karen what she thought about breastfeeding a three-year-old child.

Karen replied: ‘There’s no benefit, is there, for a child to be breastfed beyond six months really. I think it’s quite a selfish thing on the mother’s part.’

Vanessa Feltz’s new TV show has been hit by a wave of complaints (Picture: Channel 5) Fashion designer Karen Millen made controversial comments as a guest (Picture: Channel 5)

She went on to say: ‘I just think that’s not good emotionally for that child. I mean, what does that child do later in life?

‘The attachment – like you say it becomes an addiction and an addiction for that child too because they only know the boob. It’s just not normal, is it? I’m sorry, I find it very weird.’

Following the episode, 1,856 complaints were made to Ofcom, as some viewers also took to social media.

The most complained about Ofcom moments

Good Morning Britain – March 8, 2021: A discussion about the interview between Oprah Winfrey and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a whopping 54,595 complaints.

Celebrity Big Brother – January 10, 2007: This episode, which focused on the alleged bullying of Shilpa Shetty by fellow housemates, received 45,159 complaints.

Celebrity Big Brother – August 30, 31, and September 1, 2018: A huge 25,327 complaints were made following Roxanne Pallett’s allegation of assault by Ryan Thomas.

Britain’s Got Talent – September 5, 2020: Diversity’s performance generated 25,017 complaints after viewers perceived it as supporting Black Lives Matter.

Love Island – August 6, 2021: In total 24,921 complaints were made focusing on Faye’s behaviour towards Teddy.

Julia Hartley-Brewer interview – January 3, 2024: Julia’s interview with Palestinian politician Dr. Mustafa Barghouti received 17,366 complaints according to Ofcom.

@richardbuka wrote on X: ‘My god, Karen Millen is a moron. How do we live in a society where it is considered unnatural to breastfeed but ok to reconstitute freeze-dried whey protein from an animal that diverged in evolution from us 100 million years ago and shove that into a baby every four hours?’

@keyboardgirl8 added: ‘I thought Karen Millen dresses faded away in the 2000s. Glad I haven’t purchased anything from them in a long time, what an ignorant woman.’

@tichenekr also commented: ‘Can safely say I’ll never buy from Karen Millen again. Disgraceful.’

Vanessa announced she was leaving This Morning earlier this year after spending 33 years there (Picture: Channel 5)

Since her appearance on Vanessa’s show, Karen has apologised, saying: ‘I know I’ve upset a lot of your viewers and that was not my intention’.

In a clip, she can be heard explaining: ‘The question was aimed at a three-year-old being breastfed and my thoughts on that and my answers reflected that, not the subject of breastfeeding. 

‘I have three children and I breastfed all three of them up to six or seven months…

‘I think my issue was more on the fact as a baby breast milk is the best and beyond being a baby, growing into toddler, I just found it more difficult to comes to terms with how it would benefit a three-year-old.. 

‘And as a woman to women, I do respect your choices and I do want to support you…’

Vanessa and Karen’s controversial discussion was based on breastfeeding (Picture: WireImage)

This comes after Vanessa was criticised for comments she made about people with coeliac disease in 2023, with her remarks being blasted as ‘irresponsible’ by viewers.

A caller named Alison claimed she was ‘being forced to have a gluten-free Christmas’ because her mother-in-law insisted the meal be void of gluten to cater to one person, who has to have a gluten-free diet.

Responding, Vanessa said: ‘She’s treating coeliac disease as if it’s a kind of fatal, potentially fatal peanut allergy and that they can’t have anything with gluten in the house, which is completely unreasonable.’

Following the segment, the charity Coeliac UK released a statement lambasting what was said, and also posted an open letter that the organisation addressed to ITV.

The tweet read: ‘Today on ITV’s @thismorning, coeliac disease was discussed during a phone in segment on the show. We are deeply concerned about the content and advice given to a caller attending a Christmas family event where all of the food will be gluten free to protect the health of a person with coeliac disease.’

Metro has approached Karen Millen and Channel 5 for comment.

Vanessa is available to watch on Channel 5.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.