ITV Loose Women has been held under fire over complaints relating to Janet Street Porter's Gary Lineker comments on the chat show on Monday.
The panel were discussing the ongoing rows between the BBC and sports host Gary Lineker when the 76-year-old host took a jibe at the Match of the Day frontman, who we previously reported has recently been reinstated due to the public outcry.
She told her fellow panelists Ruth Langsford and Katie Piper: "One thing I will say is that nobody comes out of this very well. The BBC looks defensive and Gary looks cocky in my opinion. He looks a little bit too pleased with himself.
"Even though I noticed in his statement there's no real apology coming out of this. He thanks everybody for their show of solidarity, their show of support, his colleagues. He adds it doesn't compare to fleeing your home from persecution - he has more or less repeated what he said in the first place that caused the row!"
But her comments weren't appreciated by ITV viewers, who took to social media to fume over what she said on yesterday's show.
One user said: "The Gary Lineker saga has been taken way out of context. I am not allowed to speak about my individual opinions on politics or anything else within my job role.
"You get paid to do a job, just do it, share your personal views on your own time.. simple.."
Someone else added: "#LooseWomen Leave Gary Lineker Alone"
"Talking about Gary Lineker and complaining that it’s taken the headlines away from the bigger issues. You’re literally the problem #LooseWomen," raged another online user.
Someone else penned: "Gary Lineker should be able to tweet anything he chooses on his personal account with out it damaging his career? BBC hypocrisy at its best!"
"Not even on air 3 minutes and the great political pundits over at #LooseWomen are banging on about Gary Lineker. Do me a ruddy favour," added another.
Meanwhile, Gary has received an influx of support from fellow sports pundits, broadcasters and famous faces following the news that he will return to his Match Of The Day presenting duties this weekend.
On Monday, current BBC director-general Tim Davie apologised for “the potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance” that had resulted in the recent impartiality row.
The 62-year-old was taken off air for a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy to that of 1930s Germany, resulting in a boycott of MOTD by several regular pundits and commentators.
Confirming his return to the football highlights show on Saturday, Mr Davie said the presenter “will abide by the editorial guidelines” until a review of the BBC’s social media policy is complete.
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