Former Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson and her fiancé, personal trainer Ryan Libbey, have launched a scathing critique of entrepreneur Steven Bartlett's recent comments on declining birth rates, labelling his perspective as "misogynistic" and "archaic." The couple, both aged 35, addressed the controversy during an episode of their He Said, She Said podcast this week, reacting to viral clips from Bartlett's Diary Of A CEO podcast.
Podcast Discussion Sparks Outrage
The debate centres on two resurfaced interviews from Bartlett's show. In one conversation with guest Christopher Williamson, the declining birth rate was discussed, with Williamson attributing it partially to women holding an "anti-family" sentiment. Another viral segment featured psychologist Dr Alok Kanojia, where Bartlett and the doctor explored the male loneliness epidemic, suggesting that incels (involuntary celibate men) might face extinction if unable to find partners and reproduce.
Louise Thompson expressed scepticism about Bartlett's authority on the topic, noting, "Neither of them actually have children so I don't think that either of them are best placed to comment on the reasons why families aren't having as many children as they used to." When Ryan Libbey asked if Bartlett was receiving backlash, Louise confirmed, "Yes they are - a lot," to which Ryan responded, "Good, I'm glad. As that is a very misogynistic take."
Defending Women's Autonomy
Ryan elaborated on his criticism, emphasising that modern parenthood involves choice rather than obligation. "Having children is no longer seen as an obligation but as a decision that they have autonomy and agency over and men are not caught up with accepting that yet," he stated. "Raising children is something you now do men and women as a partnership."
Louise added context about women's life choices, arguing, "Women are also having children later in life because there are other things in life that we want to achieve first. We shouldn't have to compromise our twenties and thirties just to keep Steven Bartlett happy!" Ryan reinforced this point bluntly, saying, "F**k what he said, it's archaic. Women now have choice. It's not obligation."
Broader Criticism of Bartlett's Podcast
The controversy has extended beyond Louise and Ryan, with content creator Shabaz Ali gaining celebrity support for his analysis. Ali joked that Bartlett's podcast should be renamed "Therapy for Men, sponsored by Women Ruin Society," criticising a perceived shift in content. "This podcast used to be about like business, mindset, trauma, essentially let's heal together and get rich responsibly," Ali mused. "However, there seems to be this shift where it's become blame women for men's problems."
Ali highlighted concerns about the podcast's approach, noting, "Men's loneliness is real, men's mental health is real. But what is also real is when a podcast starts to give Manosphere ideas a ring light and a hug... just because you say it calmly and softly and have this nice background does not make the conversation crazy." He accused the show of lacking balance and failing to challenge controversial viewpoints, describing it as "serving up the same narrative over and over."
Celebrity Backlash and Support
Shabaz Ali's comments resonated with several celebrities, including Oti Mabuse, who commented, "He's so disappointing in many ways. I used to love it so much." Vicky Pattison described Ali's take as "Insightful, powerful and beautifully articulated... he's really disappointing," while Ulrika Jonsson simply added, "Amen." Other supporters included Ferne McCann, BBC radio DJ Sara Cox, The Traitors star Charlotte Chilton, and Radio 1's Greg James, who sarcastically referenced past episodes featuring dubious health claims.
Podcast's Defence and Past Controversies
A spokesman for Diary Of A CEO defended the format, stating, "The Diary Of A CEO is a long-form, conversational podcast designed to explore the perspectives and experiences of its guests in their own words. Inviting a guest is an act of inquiry, not endorsement. Steven Bartlett does not adopt the opinions of his guests, nor is the format intended to pass judgment on personal viewpoints." They rejected claims of political bias, noting guests from across the spectrum, including Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris.
However, this incident is not Bartlett's first brush with controversy. In 2024, he faced condemnation from health experts for platforming harmful misinformation, such as claims that cancer could be treated with a keto diet or that Covid vaccines were a "net negative for society." A BBC World Service investigation found that 15 out of 23 health-related episodes contained an average of 14 harmful claims that contradicted scientific evidence, often presented without challenge.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Steven Bartlett's representatives for further comment on the latest criticisms.
