Bryony Gordon Sparks Outrage with Scotland World Cup Remark
English journalist and author Bryony Gordon, a regular contributor to ITV's This Morning, has faced severe backlash after making a dismissive comment about Scotland's performance at the World Cup. The incident occurred during a live segment on July 17, 2026, when host Ben Shephard praised Scotland's achievement in qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 20 years.
Gordon interrupted Shephard, questioning, "Did Scotland do that well in the World Cup?" Shephard replied, "Yes, they got to the World Cup." Gordon then smirked and said, "Yeah they got there. True," leading to a heated exchange as the pair spoke over each other.
Shephard Defends Scotland's Achievement
Ben Shephard quickly defended Scotland, stating, "Yeah for over the first time in twenty years. They were disappointed they didn't get out the group but it's still incredible that they got here." Despite his efforts, the clip of Gordon's comment was widely shared on TikTok, with one user captioning it: "What sort of comment was that about the Scottish team. What a horrible thing to say."
The backlash was swift, with many Scottish fans expressing their frustration. One commenter wrote, "And Scotland are expected to support England with constant comments like this." Another added, "It’s no wonder Scotland can’t listen to this the English tv never changes." A third fan stated, "I’m a big fan of Bryony Gordon. Might have just changed my mind…"
Comparison to Susanna Reid's Controversy
This incident follows a similar controversy involving Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, who made an 'anti Scottish' comment last month. Reid questioned why Scotland was granted a bank holiday by King Charles after their first World Cup match against Haiti, implying it was about 'alcohol intake.' Her remarks sparked over 500 Ofcom complaints, leading to a formal apology from Reid and a statement from ITV.
After Scotland failed to advance from the group stage, Scottish fans were encouraged to support England, who reached the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Argentina on July 14, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. However, Gordon's comment has reignited tensions, with one viewer fuming, "And then they say 'Why don’t the Scots support England?'" Another concluded, "Sorry but her comments are out of order."
