Holly Willoughby sparked an uproar with ITV viewers as she addressed Phillip Schofield’s departure from This Morning.
In an emotive speech, she stated: “Hi there, good morning. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you ok? I hope so.
“It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil, and I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have, shaken troubled, let down, worried for the well-being of people on all sides of what’s been going on, and full of questions.
“You, me, and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV or stepped down from a career that they loved.
“It’s a lot to process and it’s equally hard to see the toll that it’s taken on their own mental health.”
@scrivo35 commented: “Perhaps when Holly has left #ThisMorning we will get the truth. I don’t think she will be back in September.”
@MaggieJ42656809 fumed: “Omg what a load of b******s #Hollywilloughby think its time to say goodbye to you are not fooling anyone the sickly sweet act does not wash.”
@HarryPayne87 remarked: “How many seconds into #ThisMorning until #HollyWilloughby turns on the water works and continues to bareface lie to the public, all whilst trying to maintain the little miss perfect act #PhillipSchofield #ITV.”
However, some defended Holly, with @pottedplant57 adding: “It is wonderful Holly to have you back at this morning. This morning team are all there with the viewers to support you through a difficult time. All the to you & the programme I watch the program daily.”
@JohnnySeifert added: “It was really emotional watching Holly‘s statement on @thismorning, it was like losing a parent where we are so used to a team , we now have one voice. Holly was really brave. For legalities there was a lot not said. But it had love.”
@benlorduk stated: “A line has been drawn now. It’s time to move on and stop oxygenating the cesspits of social and mainstream media! Well done, Holly. Brave and carefully crafted message indeed.”
In a bombshell interview last week, Phillip told the BBC: “I would say to everyone, I would say to my family, my friends, my work colleagues, the public, to ITV, to my management company, to everyone that I’d like to, I am desperately, desperately sorry.
“But principally, I would like to apologise to him because it may have been consensual, it may have been fully legal, but I shouldn’t have allowed it to happen, and that was a grave error on my part.
“And I know that because of that, an absolutely innocent person is being persecuted.”
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
