ITV's competition show The Voice has apologised after facing backlash for requesting free food from an independent bakery. Get Baked UK, owned by Rich Myers, received an email from a producer last week that he initially thought was a joke before realising it was genuine. The producer asked the bakery to supply products for green rooms and talent dressing rooms, but stated they were 'unable to offer anything monetary or otherwise' as payment. Instead, the email highlighted 'exposure' to influential presenters, coaches, and contestants.
Bakery Owner Calls Out ITV
Rich Myers branded ITV and production company Lifted Entertainment a 'total disgrace' in a social media post, questioning 'how did we get here'. He argued that a company making £350 million in profit asking for free cake should be illegal. In his reply to the producer, he insisted he wasn't blaming the individual but told them to tell their superiors to 'f*** off'. The post quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of comments from other food businesses and disappointed viewers.
Other Businesses Report Similar Requests
Haircare brand Silkie claimed to have received the same email, while Choc on Choc said they 'fell for' a similar offer in 2020. The widespread response highlighted a pattern of requests for free goods in exchange for exposure.
Apologies Issued
ITV sent a follow-up email to Myers, stating: 'We wanted to reach out to apologise for any upset caused by our email. This was not in line with our usual way of working nor does it reflect the standards we expect of ourselves. We're truly sorry to have caused offence.' Lifted Entertainment also issued a statement: 'We apologise for any upset this has caused and are reaching out to Rich Myers directly. Immediate steps have been taken to ensure this type of request is never made again.'
Owner Accepts Apology but Warns Against Future Requests
Posting the apology email on Instagram, Myers wrote: 'You know what, all jokes aside — if ITV stay true to their word here, and this whole thing actually results in the end of them asking for freebies from independents, then it's a massive win. Time will tell.' He told followers to inform him if ITV contacts other independent businesses, joking that he felt like the new presenter of 'WatchDog' or 'Crime Watch'. Ultimately, he accepted the apology, saying he was 'not one to hold a grudge', but warned the company not to repeat the behaviour.
