ITV's Loose Women panelist Denise Welch has launched a furious defence of her colleague and friend Kate Garraway, hitting out at what she calls 'disgusting' and 'vile' online trolls.
The backlash comes after a wave of social media abuse targeted Garraway following the heartbreaking death of her husband, Derek Draper, in January. Draper, a former political lobbyist, battled devastating long-term health complications after contracting Covid-19 in 2020.
Welch took to X, formerly Twitter, to passionately defend Garraway against baseless accusations of financial impropriety. The claims suggested Garraway had set up a complex corporate structure to avoid tax on income meant for her husband's care.
'The level of vitriol from the keyboard warriors is beyond belief,' Welch stated. 'To attack a woman who has just lost her husband, a man who suffered unimaginably for years, is absolutely vile. These accusations are not just wrong, they are disgusting.'
Garraway's life was upended as she became Derek's primary carer, a story she documented in two emotionally raw ITV documentaries. The immense financial pressure of around £16,000-a-month in care costs was also laid bare, leading her to return to work on Good Morning Britain while managing her caring responsibilities.
Welch's public support highlights the intense scrutiny and often cruel speculation faced by public figures during times of immense personal grief. She urged her followers to show compassion and to dismiss the unfounded rumours circulating online.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the behaviour of social media users and the need for greater empathy, particularly when targeting individuals navigating profound personal tragedy.
