Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona has vehemently defended veteran broadcaster Eamonn Holmes after his use of the term 'oriental' on air sparked a social media firestorm.
Weighing in on the controversy, Katona issued a staunch defence of the GB News presenter, stating she took no personal offence to his comment and condemning the 'woke mob' for attempting to cancel him.
The row erupted during a segment on Holmes' GB News show, where he used the term while discussing a topic. The word, considered by some to be outdated and potentially offensive when describing people of East Asian origin, quickly drew criticism online.
However, Katona has slammed the backlash, passionately coming to the defence of her fellow TV personality. In her statement, she emphasised that context and intent are crucial, arguing that Holmes is "not a malicious person" and that the outrage was disproportionate.
Katona's full-throated support highlights several key points:
- She believes the focus should be on intent rather than semantics.
- She criticised the culture of immediate outrage on social media.
- She expressed her personal support for Eamonn Holmes as a colleague and friend.
The reality TV star and columnist suggested that the constant scrutiny of language is becoming counterproductive, pulling focus away from genuine issues. Her intervention adds a significant voice to the ongoing debate about cancel culture and freedom of speech on broadcast media.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding language and political correctness on GB News, which has positioned itself as a challenger to more established news outlets. The defence from a well-known figure like Katona is likely to fuel further discussion about the boundaries of acceptable language on television.
