TV presenter Davina McCall says people who previously held racist or homophobic views should be forgiven if they have "seen the light".
The 54-year-old said she often gets asked about things she said in the past, but believes our cancel culture shows a "lack of forgiveness".
Davina also told how she was scared to support friends and celebrities who she thought had been unfairly criticised for fear of being cancelled herself.
The telly star said: "It is really weird to haul somebody over the coals for a tweet in 2011. You’ve got to be allowed to change your mind.
"Sometimes people could have been racist or homophobic 10 years ago and they might have met somebody along the way who’s made them see the light, and they are so ashamed of the way they used to feel.
"They apologise, yet that is not enough and they are still branded homophobic."
In March last year Davina faced a backlash online after she said calling all men dangerous is "bad for our sons, brothers and partners," in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder.
The marketing executive's death has prompted an outpouring of emotion on Twitter, as women share their experience of being approached and harassed in the street.
But Davina said on twitter: "Female abduction / murder is extremely rare.
"Yes we should all be vigilant when out alone.
"But this level of fear-mongering isn’t healthy. And men’s mental health is an issue as well. Calling all men out as dangerous is bad for our sons, brothers, partners."
Some broadcasters, magazine editors and other women hit out at the claim, while some people online defended McCall's comments.
Fellow TV presenter Rylan Clark, 33, who was interviewing McCall for his Ry-Union podcast, said he pre-judged one of his now closest friends and assumed he would not get on with them because of their views.
And now he feels protective and is terrified they might put their foot in it publicly.
He said: "There are so many people that I know, that were very much very good friends of mine in this industry, the nicest people you could ever wish to be around, and they will say one thing, and I will even admit before I met the person I'm thinking of 'I'm not going to get on with that person, I know I'm not'.
"And they're actually one of my closest. And they say one thing and whenever I see the name trending I think 'what's been said now?'
"And I know where that person's coming from, but I know someone who's just sitting on Twitter wanting to cancel someone would think."
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