Loose Women star and newsreader Charlene White has hit out at BBC presenter Jan Leeming after she criticised her “condescending” broadcasting style, in a row that escalated on X, formerly Twitter.
Accusations of Condescension
The clash began when Jan Leeming tweeted: “Wish ITV’s Charlene would stop addressing us as if we were children. She has such a condescending style. Don’t know whether or not she is an excellent journalist but don’t think she hacks it as a newsreader. It may look an easy job but not all are as good as [Mary Nightingale].”
Charlene responded, writing: “Very surprising to see a presenter I admired as a kid deciding to slate me on social media.” She added: “In an industry where women, especially black women, have had to work incredibly hard to get ahead, this type of disrespect from a fellow female journo feels like s’thing from a bygone era.”
Denial of Racism
Jan replied: “I said I didn’t know how good you are as a journalist but I find your delivery condescending. It has nothing to do with colour.” She added: “Actually I believe it is far easier these days for BAME people to get ahead in all walks of life. It was only an opinion and my apologies to you.”
Jan insisted she was “only making a professional comment” when slammed by social media users, writing: “It was only an opinion and perhaps I shouldn’t have voiced it. I forget that we are no longer allowed free speech in this country.”
Fallout and Withdrawal
Jan refused to delete her comments but said she had received “nasty invective and abuse” for her remarks, which “brought her personal life into the equation”. She eventually wrote: “I made a comment -should have kept my thoughts to myself. I’ve now been on receiving end of far more nastiness and personal abuse than was warranted by making a comment on style. To bring my personal life into the equation was below the belt.”
She concluded: “Won’t be using account for next few days. Was unwise to make a comment about style but don’t believe it warranted vile abuse. Believe me I received far worse criticism and nastiness from, mostly female, journalists in my heyday.”
