Gemma Collins found herself on the receiving end of a parking ticket on her £100,000 Land Rover after enjoying a lunch with friends in Woodford, Essex, on Friday. The TOWIE star, 46, turned heads as she emerged from the restaurant wearing a garish River Island co-ord featuring a neon floral print. She completed the look with pink flip-flops, sunglasses, and a leopard print handbag while strolling over to discover the fine on her windscreen.
It has not been the best week for the reality TV favourite, who recently faced backlash for her appearance in an advertisement with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. The pair met to discuss education reforms, but the video sparked widespread confusion and criticism, particularly from parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Gemma quickly hit back at trolls, stating she was 'honoured' to record a video about caring for SEND children, insisting it is a 'topic close to my heart'. The clip, seemingly designed to take advantage of a The Devil Wears Prada trend, saw Gemma arrive at the Department for Education and ask staff: 'Right. What are we doing to help the children?' before being shown into the minister's office.
Despite the video going viral, Gemma received widespread confusion over her involvement, as parents questioned whether she was the right choice for such a promotion. However, Gemma hit back at critics, saying she did not receive any payment for taking part and insisting she does have experience with the issue. She cryptically said it is something she has been 'dealing with', adding that 'all will become clear'.
In videos posted on Instagram, she told fans that she understands 'more than people think' and that provision for SEND children is 'a topic close to my heart'. 'I just want to come on and say stay tuned because I do have experience with SEND, and you know I don't really want at this stage to go into it that much, but you know, I do understand a little bit more than people think,' she said. 'Just trying to spread positivity and yeah it's all going to become clear very soon.'
In a second clip she said: 'At the end of the day I'm getting attention, I wasn't paid, I'm creating a lot of noise around the subject so please bear in mind that it's what I'm there to do for everyone and get people talking.' She added that she hadn't been paid to take part in the video, saying: 'I was honoured to do it and you know it is a topic close to my heart that I've been dealing with and it's all going to become clear hun.'
Collins also visited Focus 1st Academy this week, a specialist independent school, where she talked to staff and students about SEN issues. Headteacher Marina Savva told the Daily Mail: 'Gemma Collins was one of the most uplifting inspirational speakers that we've ever had. She lifted the students up, she gave them hope, she gave them something to aspire to. She knew them. I think give credit where credit's due.'
She added that Gemma 'wishes she could have attended a school like ours' during her own school years, because 'she had her own needs and struggles during her school time'. 'She found it hard to concentrate at lengths of time. She didn't have very many friends and she found it difficult. Her social skills back then were not where they should have been. She started to become a bit of a non-attender.' The headteacher added she wants the government to be more supportive of special schools like hers.
Gemma's defence came after some parents of children with special education needs branded the Department for Education's video 'tone-deaf' and questioned whether she had any relevant experience of SEND issues. One said: 'This honestly feels like a mockery for those of us who have been battling for our children to be supported, protected and in a suitable education placement for their needs. We are exhausted and this is quite frankly, insulting.' Another labelled it 'appallingly tone deaf'.
