Journalist Samantha Brick has critisised presenter Holly Willoughby, after she broke down over the Ian Watkins case on last Thursday's This Morning show.
Holly's emotional reaction to the criminologist's analysis, resulted in Samantha demanding she 'get her pay docked'.
The 42-year-old took to Closer's Facebook page, writing:
'She shouldn't be allowed to participate in such sensitive discussions'
'WHAT? That's pathetic, she simply shouldn't be covering news stories if she can't hold it together. Imagine the victims watching or those in need of help. The last thing they need to see is her sobbing.'
Her comments received a massive backlash in defence of 32-year-old Holly, causing Samantha to add:
'Listen up lovely people Holly is paid a fortune by ITV to present This Morning. She wasted precious airtime, putting her feelings first, that could have been used advising and warning and helping people who are genuinely worried - but no she preferred to blub.
‘It IS pathetic and she shouldn't be allowed to participate in such sensitive discussions if she can't cope (and her pay should be docked accordingly).'
But who is right?
'Her approachable attitude makes her someone viewers can relate to'
Holly, a mother-of-two, has come under fire before for getting emotional on air.
Yet when former X factor judge Cheryl Cole frequently became tearful during performances, her tears were described as ‘those of an angel'.
The difference here, is the content.
A talent show is there to evoke emotion and opinion, however an analysis of paedophilic behaviour is a topic easily covered by a newsreader- in which case it would definitely not be acceptable to sob through a bulletin.
Despite this, Holly is clearly not a newsreader, and I believe the reason her pairing with Phillip Schofield works, is because of the 'good cop, bad cop' scenario.
Phillip is the show’s 'hard-line' journalist, providing structure and direction, whilst Holly adds a 'softer edge'.
As a young, working mother, her approachable attitude makes her someone viewers can relate to, where they may not be able to do so with the more professional, but also untouchable, Ruth Langsford.
Despite this, I do not believe Thursday's show warranted tears.
As disturbing as the case is, the show was aimed to explain the behaviour of paedophiles- a serious, informative topic for many people. It was a talk with professionals, not a heart-wrenching interview with an abuse victim, where tears may have been more appropriate.
But it is easy to judge Holly's ability as a presenter- who knows what you, me or Samantha would be like in her shoes.
We all have a weakness, and showing it is not a crime.
During the interview, criminologist Mark Williams-Thomas confirms to Holly that 'most offenders are people we know'- a fact which must have hit close to home for Holly, who is good friends with Fearne Cotton- an ex-girlfriend of Ian Watkins.
In an age where increasingly inhumane things are happening, showing a bit of human emotion is not such a bad thing.
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