Kathryn Thomas has broken her silence on Operation Transformation criticisms and hit back at trolls, saying: "I don’t believe in trolling and blatantly false accusations."
The RTE show comes to an end this week, with a finale set to air on Wednesday with Kathryn leading the way as host.
Since the show returned earlier this year, eating disorder group BodyWhys claimed it is “triggering” for some affected, while thousands have signed a petition calling on RTE to axe the programme.
Leaving filming on Sunday night, the presenter spoke out on the controversy and criticisms that have surrounded the show since the season began in January and spoke of her pride to work on the show.
The mother of two, 43, said: “I want to say I am so proud of this show, so proud of the people who work on it, so proud of the work that it does, it is really important.
“It is an important show.
“And I would not be working on the show - I am the mother of two daughters - if I did not believe in the integrity of it.”
The Carlow native said she had tried to stay out of ‘online spats’ in the past, but said she wouldn’t stay silent on trolling.
Taking to Instagram, the presenter told her 132,000 followers: “There has been criticism levelled on the show, and a lot of you here have been asking me ‘why have you not come out against it and saying anything’ and I honestly don’t believe in online spats, I really don’t.
“I don’t block anybody ever on my Instagram account, I believe that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, what I don’t agree with is trolling.
She added: “And what I don’t believe in is blatantly false accusations and false facts being reported whether it is here[Instagram] online or in a newspaper that’s just wholeheartedly inaccurate.
“But as I said, everybody is entitled to their opinion. Not everybody has to love the show.”
She went on to thank fans for their support throughout the season, including those who flocked to the Phoenix Park on Sunday to support this year’s leaders in the annual 5k run.
She said: “I have just left RTE after wrapping the finale of Operation Transformation. What a day. Oh my god.
“It was brilliant. The leaders are just brilliant. Gas, and just seeing them tonight, so happy, and yesterday in the Phoenix Park, I mean we were running in the pissing rain.
“By the way to the thousands of you who turned up to support them, to shout their name, to show your support for the show, honestly it means the world, not just to me but everybody who works on the show.
She added: “For those of you who do and understand the importance of what we do, thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy the show.”
It comes after Kathryn shared a snippet of former show doctor Ciara Kelly’s Sunday Independent column, which also defended the show against the criticism.
The headline of the piece read: “Operation Transformation aims to empower not fat shame. It might be triggering for some, but we need ways to help the majority attain a healthy weight.”
The Newstalk Breakfast presenter, who had previously worked as the show’s GP, said she had to turn off the comments under a post on the platform, where she was promoting the piece, saying she didn’t have time to ‘field off’ the comments and criticisms on her day off with her family.
Bodywhys said they will not be making any further comment on this when approached by Irish Mirror.
