Louise Thompson has expressed her deep regret after facing a significant backlash over remarks made earlier this week regarding potty training. The former Made In Chelsea star, 36, and her husband Ryan Libbey, 35, faced criticism for comments perceived as mocking children who are not yet toilet-trained by the time they start school.
The Controversial Comments
On their podcast He Said, She Said, the couple discussed a statistic indicating that one in four children begin school without being potty trained. Louise admitted she was 'shocked' by the figure, and both laughed when Ryan remarked that it was 'a raw deal' for teachers. This reaction prompted widespread backlash, with many pointing out that children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) often face challenges with toilet training.
Louise's Apology
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Louise issued a sincere apology in a video message. She said: 'The first thing I want to say is that I am just so sorry that I have upset anybody, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. It was never our intention to go out there and offend so many people, let alone a community of parents and children that have so many challenges as it is. Both Ryan and I are deeply devastated.'
She explained that the statistic was taken from a Guardian article published in January and was not specifically about children with SEN or disabilities. However, she acknowledged: 'It doesn't matter because what this has taught us is that we should have considered those other groups of children, and this is an area that is so under-discovered.'
Admiration for Struggling Mothers
Louise expressed her admiration for mothers who face daily challenges, stating: 'I have watched all the videos and read all the comments. I have nothing but tremendous admiration for the mothers out there having heard their stories.' She encouraged further dialogue, inviting mothers to share their experiences to better inform future podcast discussions.
Louise, who has been open about her own medical conditions, including having a stoma bag, added: 'I obviously have an invisible disability myself, so I am particularly sensitive to these sorts of topics. I think so much of the battle is finding the courage to speak up about them so that people that don't understand them do, so we feel like a less marginalised group in society.'
Initial Response and Backlash
Prior to the apology, the couple had removed the clip from Instagram and issued a statement that failed to apologise, writing: 'In a previous clip we included a conversation around potty training based on recent stats and our own lived experience... This however did not include the very important reference to SEN children and families which was an oversight so we removed the clip to avoid further offence.'
The original clip featured Louise stating: 'I think a basic human right is to teach your child before the age of four how to use the loo and how to wipe their bum.' She also mentioned that 28 per cent of children start reception unable to eat and drink independently. The comments section on the podcast's social media was flooded with criticism from parents and SEN advocates.
Statistics and Context
The statistics cited by Louise and Ryan come from an annual survey by the early years charity Kindred Squared, which found that teachers estimated 26 per cent of children in reception had frequent toilet mishaps, rising to 36 per cent in the north-east. The survey also indicated that 28 per cent of children were unable to eat and drink independently, and 25 per cent struggled with other basic life skills. However, these figures do not account for children whose delays may be related to disabilities or SEN.
Louise concluded her apology by promising to learn from the experience and continue raising awareness on such topics, stating: 'I promise this has been such an important lesson and not one that I take lightly.'
