Good Morning Britain turned tense on Thursday (12 November) as Kate Garraway clashed with Baroness Hazarika live on air. The row escalated after Garraway praised Jonathan Ross as "brave" for addressing the rape conviction of Russell Brand, as well as the sexual misconduct allegations raised against David Walliams.
Ross, who said he was "horrified" by their conduct, explained that while he had been "on friendly terms with both men," he was "unaware" of Brand and Walliams' behaviour. That sentiment left Baroness Hazarika unconvinced, and the politician made her feelings clear on the programme.
Baroness Hazarika questions Ross's awareness
"I think Jonathan Ross is a really smart, clever, and funny man. The idea that he didn't know - I'm sorry, that's nonsense," Hazarika said.
Referring to a clip that has resurfaced online, the Baroness noted that in a 2007 episode of The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Ross joked that Lily Allen, who was 21 at the time, should not be sitting near Russell Brand and Noel Fielding.
"You've put the only attractive young lady near to two of the best known coxmen in the business," Ross said. "I'm going to move over here. And then Lilly [Allen] might go home with her dress still on."
"How dare you, we're not rapists," Fielding replied. "What if, horror of horrors, he ain't even done a rape? You could ruin his career," Brand quipped.
Garraway defends Ross on air
Responding to that particular example, Garraway - who appeared alongside Ross on last year's Celebrity Traitors - said, "I've been on panel shows where people have made all sorts of jokes. Not that [kind of joke], maybe because it was a different sort of show, I don't know.
"But that was the culture of the time, and it has been until very, very recently."
Clarifying that it does not mean those kinds of jokes were okay, Garraway added: "What I'm trying to say is we're lifting a lid, so Jonathan, I think, has been rather brave about coming out and saying this."
"Listen, I'm sure you must be good friends with him," Hazarika pointed out.
"I can believe he didn't know what was going on, specifically," Garraway reasoned. "Only because I did a show with David Walliams, actually. I didn't particularly get to know him because he would sort of arrive, say, 'Thanks for doing this show,' then do the job and go. But I did that for a whole series, and I have no idea about this."
Hazarika hits back and viewers react
Hitting back, the Baroness declared, "Kate, with the greatest respect to you, I did a TV show with Russell Brand in the early 2000s, and I could tell. Every woman knew. Every single person knew."
Jonathan Ross has released a statement in response to Russell Brand's rape conviction.
Following the debate, viewers voiced their outrage over Garraway's comments. "It's NOT brave; he's a coward who's trying to deflect and distance himself from Brand and Walliams. It's a sick comment from Garraway," replied one X user.
"Very disturbing to describe Ross as 'brave'. Please can senior management at GMB review such comments and consider how this impacts victims," tweeted a second. Meanwhile, a third fumed, "Is this woman for real? No wonder so many women are too scared to come forward and speak out," and a fourth noted, "Women like Kate are the reason many women stay silent."
