A wave of outrage has swept across social media following the 2024 National Television Awards, as reality TV star Molly-Mae Hague clinched a major win over the profoundly moving documentary about rugby league hero Rob Burrow.
The 24-year-old former Love Island contestant and creative director of PLT won the Authored Documentary award for her YouTube series, Molly-Mae: Becoming a Mum. The win was immediately met with a fierce backlash from viewers who believed the award rightfully belonged to Rob Burrow: Living with MND, a heartbreaking and inspirational film documenting the late Leeds Rhinos player's battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Public Outcry and Accusations of a 'Popularity Contest'
Fans and viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) in their droves to express their disbelief and anger. Many labelled the NTAs a "popularity contest" rather than a true reflection of merit, arguing that the panel-voted award should have honoured Rob Burrow's incredible legacy and the immense awareness his documentary raised for MND.
One furious viewer posted: "Rob Burrow dedicated his final years to raising awareness for MND. He was a hero. This is an absolute disgrace." Another added: "The fact a documentary about a reality star becoming a mum beat Rob Burrow's final documentary is everything wrong with the world."
A Bittersweet Night for the Burrow Family
The loss was particularly poignant as Rob Burrow's widow, Lindsey, and his parents were in attendance at the ceremony at London's O2 Arena. Earlier in the night, Rob's former teammate and best friend, Kevin Sinfield, delivered a powerful and emotional speech after their documentary won in the Sports category, dedicating the award to Rob and his family.
Despite the public fury directed at the result, Molly-Mae appeared overwhelmed with emotion during her acceptance speech. She dedicated her win to her newborn daughter, Bambi, and her fiancé, Tommy Fury.
The Aftermath: Questions Over Judging Criteria
The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the nature of public-voted awards and the criteria used for judged categories. Critics question whether a deeply personal vlog about motherhood can be compared to a hard-hitting, nationally significant documentary about a sporting icon's fight against a terminal illness.
While Molly-Mae's documentary resonated with her millions of followers, the overwhelming sentiment online suggests that the public believed this was one award that should have had a different, more meaningful outcome, honouring a true national hero.
