Fearne Cotton has revealed she was shouted at by a Vatican security guard during a trip to Rome after breaking a strict rule inside the Sistine Chapel. The TV presenter admitted her initial reaction was to tell the guard to 'f*** off,' but she refrained.
Breaking the Rules in the Sistine Chapel
Cotton, 44, was caught taking photos of the chapel's ceiling, painted in fresco by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. Visitors are banned from photography to protect the restored artwork from cumulative flash damage and to maintain a quiet, respectful atmosphere.
Speaking on her podcast, Cotton said: 'I got in there, I didn’t realise you’re not allowed to take photos. I’d missed that tannoy announcement, and I went to take a picture. I got massively reprimanded, shouted at by a very burly Italian security guard, which should have freaked me out and made me go, “Oh god, I’m so sorry,” but instead, I wanted to go, “F*** off!”' She added: 'I would never do that in the Sistine Chapel, obvs.'
Cotton's Frustration with the Rule
Cotton expressed frustration at the ban, saying: 'I was so riled. Like, I want to take a picture of it, I’ve not got my flash on, why is it a problem?' She acknowledged there might be religious reasons for the rule but admitted she was 'not very good at rules,' especially if she thinks they don't make sense.
Visitors to the chapel are asked to remain silent and refrain from any photography. Guards have the authority to make visitors delete images if they see rules being broken.
Personal Struggles
Earlier this year, Cotton admitted she was struggling to 'hold it together' as a single parent. The comments came days after her ex-husband Jesse Wood announced he was expecting a baby with his new girlfriend. Cotton, who split from Wood in December 2024 after 10 years of marriage, said there was pressure juggling work and raising their two children.
