Vanessa Feltz has issued an apology after she was criticised for “irresponsible” remarks she made about coeliac disease on This Morning.
The show’s agony aunt, 61, found herself “at the centre of a social media storm” after viewers claimed she was spreading misinformation about the disease as part of a segment on festive season dilemmas on the ITV show.
Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten and means the body can’t properly absorb nutrients from food.
After a caller named Alison rang in about “being forced to have a gluten-free Christmas” by her mother-in-law, Feltz responded: “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.”
On the following day’s show, Feltz was joined by Dr Saleyha Ahsan and a viewer named Jason, who suffers from coeliac disease on her drivetime show, TalkTV, in response to the stir.
She began: “I found myself at the centre of a social media storm this week, I’ll be addressing that next,” before playing a clip of Monday’s This Morning phone-in.
“I said what I said there, but then I added that you should go in the spirit of Christmas and enjoy a gluten free meal anyway.”
Feltz continued: “I did not suggest that they put the coeliac in harm’s way nor did I intend to show in any shape of form any disrespect to any one with coeliac disease.
“I am astounded by the reaction and horrified that anyone is upset. I don’t think that I said anything wrong, but if anyone is upset, I am very sorry.”
She concluded: “All I ever want is clarity and compassion and I am certainly not trying to play down coeliac disease.
“The last thing I wanted to do was upset anyone and I hope that I have made amends.”
After Feltz’s remarks caused a furore online, This Morning invited Dr Zoe Williams on Tuesday’s show to discuss coeliac disease.
