Dan Wootton has faced fierce backlash for what critics have branded a "vile" tribute to Dame Esther Rantzen following her death.
On Wednesday (September 30), it was confirmed that the broadcaster and campaigner had died at the age of 86 after fighting lung cancer. Messages of condolence poured in for Dame Esther across social media, including from podcast host and former GB News presenter Dan.
Wootton's Tribute Sparks Fury
The Dan Wootton Outspoken host, 43, posted old clips of Dame Esther appearing on GB News, where she argued that elderly people who declined the Covid-19 vaccine shouldn't seek medical care and endangered NHS workers' lives if they fell ill. "I always respected Esther Rantzen debating me, even though we disagreed on most issues.
"Her TV legacy is unmatched. Her health legacy is mixed. The unvaxxed will never forget her telling me in this appearance on GB News that they should be left to die... May she rest in peace," he wrote in the caption.
His message instantly triggered fury, with numerous people slamming his tribute. "Imagine being such a disgusting individual that you, purposely with vile intent, shroud an obituary with a play at division and hate? What a vile person Wootton is," one wrote, reports the Express.
Social Media Reaction
A second fumed: "And now you grift on another dead person??? She couldn't stand you much like so many others." A third echoed: "That you use it for clicks and comments on her death says more about your moral compass and need for attention than hers, Wootton."
When Dame Esther made the comments on his GB News programme, Dan countered: "But that's not the sort of society we want." She retorted: "If you expect nurses and doctors to look after you, you must protect them and you must make sure they can prioritise people!" The host queried: "So, you would want to ban the un-jabbed from being able to access health services?"
Dame Esther's Legacy
Dame Esther clarified: "No. I'm saying you've got to make that decision yourself. It's your choice. If you decide that you don't want a vaccine or a booster, then you can decide not to go to hospital however ill you get."
In a statement, Dame Esther's family described her as "the most wonderful mother" and "cherished grandmother", adding that she would be remembered for her "endless capacity for joy". The presenter helmed the BBC consumer affairs programme That's Life! for 21 years from 1973 to 1994, which led to her establishing Childline in 1986, a counselling service for young people. Following her stage four lung cancer diagnosis in 2023, Dame Esther became a prominent advocate for assisted dying.
