The woman behind a petition to get Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield axed from This Morning has said it's "destroying" her.
Laura Harrison created a Change.org petition, which she launched after the presenters faced a huge backlash after being accused of jumping the queue to see the Queen lying in state. The petition has now been signed by more than 76,000 people.
She alleged Holly and Phil were “given privileges that deprived others”.
The queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state after her death, aged 96, on September 8 attracted thousands to London, with people queueing for up to 24 hours to pay their final respects to the late monarch. On Friday, September 16, Holly, 41, looked emotional as she tied her long blonde locks back with a black scrunchie and wore a matching black mask as she went inside Westminster Hall where hundreds of thousands filed through past the Queen's coffin over four days.
Phillip was seen walking behind her in a smart black suit and tie for the visit, with the presenter sporting a sombre look on his face. However, controversy broke out shortly after as people accused them of jumping the queue, prompting a huge negative response to the pair on social media, and even saw Ms Harrison create a petition calling for the two of them to be sacked.
However, according to our sister site Birmingham Live, in an update, the petition’s creator has said she is now taking a step back. She wrote an update on the page, saying: “I’ve asked ITV to deliver any responses relating to this to the public and not to me, as I won’t be following the news, or watching the programme, or sharing anything online, or through social media. I want nothing more than for this topic to end.”
She added: “I want positivity, not hostility and negativity. The concerns raised by this have been shared with Ofcom and ITV, and that’s all I can do.”
ITV has defended Holly and Phil over the claims. A statement read: “They did not jump the queue, have VIP access or file past the Queen lying in state. But instead were there in a professional capacity as part of the world’s media to report on the event.”
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