Amanda Holden has come under fire for remarks she made about the late Paul O'Grady, suggesting that he was "not woke in any way".
Tributes poured in for the star after his husband, Andre Portasio, announced the sad news that Paul had died "unexpectedly but peacefully" aged 67 earlier this week. Presenting a host of TV and radio shows, Paul first rose to fame in the 1980s as drag queen Lily Savage and was hailed as a "hero", "legend" and "icon" to the LGBTQ+ community.
Sharing her thoughts on Paul on her Heart Breakfast radio show, Amanda, 52, said that she was "completely shocked" by the news of his death, describing him as "really really funny, very witty" and adding: "everything that came out of his mouth was brilliant". However, some listeners took issue with one part of her tribute in which she suggested that Paul "didn't have a woke bone in his body".
READ MORE: Paul O'Grady: A life in pictures
Amanda went on to say to her co-stars: "Do you know what I loved about him? He was not woke in any way. He had massive opinions on everything, which I love people like that."
The comments sparked a backlash on social media, with many voicing their disagreement with Amanda's sentiments. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of woke is: "Aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues - especially issues of racial and social justice."
One person questioned on Twitter: "I can't work out whether she doesn't know what woke means, or simply doesn't know who Paul O'Grady is."
Another retorted: "That would be the drag artist, AIDS campaigner, LGBTQ+ hero and anti-austerity critic Paul O'Grady."
"Ma'am, Paul was the wokest of woke," someone else hit back. "The man was a queer activist, trailblazer and unapologetic drag queen on prime time TV when being gay was seen as dirty. What about that isn't woke?"
While another fan commented: "He was woke before woke was woke."
Meanwhile, Amanda also posted a touching tribute to Paul on her Instagram page, writing alongside a photo of herself with the late presenter: "Woken up to this sad, sad news. I loved Paul. He was brilliantly opinionated, searingly sharp and very funny.
"I loved our conversations. I can’t quite believe it. Thoughts with Andre and their family."
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