Loose Women sparks Ofcom fury with 'unacceptable' debate: 'Should be ashamed'

Loose Women faced a wave of Ofcom complaints following a segment discussing Violet Affleck's United Nations speech. A total of 97 complaints were filed in response to comments made during the September 25 episode of the ITV show. Violet, the eldest daughter of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, spoke out about COVID-19 and long COVID, criticising the return to a mask-free society. Her speech prompted a debate among panelists Kaye Adams, Oti Mabuse, Judi Love, and Nadia Sawalha, who discussed whether children today are experiencing increased health anxiety.

Kaye said: "It's sparked a conversation about the growing health anxiety crisis among young people. I don't think necessarily Violet has said that she has health anxiety but you look at that and you do see somebody who is concerned." However, the segment sparked a flurry of complaints, with viewers criticising the show for using Violet's speech as a springboard to discuss health anxiety among children and teenagers.

One raged: "Just submitted a complaint to @Ofcom about @LooseWomen trivialising Violet Affleck's UN speech on #LongCovid. Misrepresenting young advocates & dismissing children's suffering is unacceptable."

A second agreed: "The attack on Violet Affleck is an unacceptable behavior, labeling a young intelligent well articulated woman as anxious when she is stating medical facts in UN? Your program is sick and should not be allowed to continue. Your lies that 'covid is a cold' are killing people."

Another echoed: "I can't bring myself to watch it. It's embarrassing that anyone would think their opinion on this serious, scientific subject matters."

Also hitting out at the show, a fourth posted: "Violet Affleck, who's just 19, wears a mask in public and spoke movingly at the United Nations about the need for clean air in schools. In response, Loose Women asked parents if they're worried about their kids' 'health anxiety'."

Another declared: "@loosewomenn ashamed for your ignorance regarding covid and its long impacts on some. Read some science! You know how some people can eat peanuts and some can't without dire consequences? Some people get covid and are basically ok, some get covid and are not."

During her speech, Violet slammed leaders for "ignoring, minimizing, and hiding both the prevalence of airborne transmission and the threat of the long COVID".

The 19-year-old admitted she was "terrified" and "furious" for children, who "will not know a world without debilitating pain and exhaustion, who cannot trust their bodies to play, explore, and imagine".