‘This Morning’ has come under fire over a debate which posed the question, “Have sexual accusations gone too far?”.
Yep. This really happened.
In the wake of the ongoing sexual harassment and rape accusations levelled against Harvey Weinstein – the latter of which the movie mogul has vehemently denied – Monday’s (30 October) edition of the show included a discussion around the #MeToo hashtag, which saw victims of sexual abuse sharing their own experiences.
However, throughout the seven-minute segment, viewers tweeted their distaste for the way the subject matter was being handled.
Many suggested that sexual harassment accusations are not something that should be up for debate, particularly as so many people who have experienced abuse find it difficult to come forward.
“Have sexual accusations gone too far?” What sort of question is that? How about asking, have sexual assaults gone too far? #thismorning
#ThisMorning – ‘have sexual accusations gone too far?’ This is the question that makes people not want to come out with their story.
“Have sexual accusations gone too far?” This is disgusting, your a disgrace #ThisMorning media supported #RapeCulture. #MeToo https://t.co/ViQkLFKZWU
October 30, 2017
Infuriating strapline from #ThisMorning on all the sexual harassment stories… I think the frequency of occurrence is the problem surely?! pic.twitter.com/muU8Jo6LME
October 30, 2017
Note to @thismorning: there is no correct number of allegations, beyond which they’ve gone “too far”. Tell that to, say, Savile’s victims ? https://t.co/ojAkf0xWlD
October 30, 2017
Infuriating strapline from #ThisMorning on all the sexual harassment stories… I think the frequency of occurrence is the problem surely?! pic.twitter.com/muU8Jo6LME
October 30, 2017
Today’s debate on This Morning: Have sexual abuse allegations gone too far? pic.twitter.com/SYBAI2numn
“Have sexual accusations gone too far?” No! If you’ve been abused then ofc you should speak about it! What a fkn stupid segment #ThisMorning
#ThisMorning why don’t women go to the police? Really? Because the police don’t do anything and most first time offenders get off scots free
#ThisMorning “Men are living in fear about being accused of harrasment” How about don’t harass anyone?
It’s not hard. Keep your hands and comments to yourself if you haven’t established a proper relationship with someone ????? #ThisMorning
Stop calling harassment banter. Banter is teasing between friends, not unwanted comments directed at women. #thismorning
During the debate, radio presenter Nick Ferrari expressed his concern that “inappropriate behaviour” from men is not comparable to sexual assault or abuse.
Similarly, Phillip Schofield commented: “The thing is, for all the good that #MeToo has done, it has been widely used to name, with no proof, with no concrete evidence… and then someone’s name is attached to the #MeToo.”
Actress Debbie Arnold, who recently spoke about her own experiences of sexual harassment, then commented that “sometimes you have to do that”, at which point Phillip interrupted, saying: “But why do you have to do that? Why don’t you just go to the police? Why are you using Twitter to name someone?”
Debbie then said that the hashtag was good because it allowed people with “old wounds” to not feel so alone, adding: “It’s so hard to stand alone… to go to the police and say something has happened.”
Holly Willoughby then pointed out that often when people go the police, they still don’t have their cases of sexual assault taken seriously, insisting: “Sometimes it does take extra measures.”
HuffPost UK has reached out to a spokesperson for ‘This Morning’ for further comment.
The debate around sexual harassment was aired on the same morning that Kevin Spacey came under fire for his “apology” statement, after he was accused of making a sexual advance towards actor Anthony Rapp when he was just 14 years old.
‘This Morning’ airs every weekday from 10.30am on ITV.