After a Twitter storm of backlash against their presenters, This Morning bosses have released a statement claiming Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield didn't actually 'jump the queue' to see the Queen's coffin.
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"What gives them the entitlement to queue jump?" one infuriated internet user wrote, while another slammed the chat show hosts as 'elitist'.
These are just some of the types of comments you might have seen if you've been on Twitter at all in the last day or so, after Holly and Phil were spotted looking sombre as they observed the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall on Friday (16 September).
David Beckham in the queue for over 10 hours paying his respects to The Queen while Holly and Phil saunter in, skipping the line is a terrible look. Why do people like this think they’re special? Unless you’re Royalty or a foreign President you join the queue. End of. pic.twitter.com/6X1gbq3ifo
— Joe Michalczuk (@joemichalczuk) September 16, 2022
Unlike thousands of people, including David Beckham, who stood in the streets of London for hours on end as the queue edged closer to the coffin, the two television presenters were able to enter the Hall without delay.
With lanyards around their necks, the pair were taken to a press gallery for a separate viewing of the coffin, which remains in Westminster Hall today (18 September) ahead of the state funeral tomorrow.
In the wake of the backlash, the official This Morning Instagram account posted a statement defending Holly and Phil, beginning: "Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something."
It continued: "We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme.
"They did not jump the queue, have VIP access or file past the Queen lying in state – but instead were there in a professional capacity as part of the world’s media to report on the event."
Like almost every other chat and news show in the UK recently, Holly and Phil have discussed the passing of the Queen on their show, most recently describing themselves as 'relieved' to see Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William and Kate Middleton all together after the Queen’s funeral procession earlier this week.
This Morning's statement hasn't gone down well with everyone, however, with one person responding: "If they were filming, then film in the queue? There is no excuse for it and plus they could of [sic] spoken with the public about the experience and stories to share, but no they did not so take that info and stick up where the sun don't shine."
It's not been a great few weeks for the This Morning presenters, as the backlash comes just after the show was criticised for handing out the prize of 'paying for your energy bills' during one of its segments.
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Celebrity, Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby, This Morning, ITV
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