Good Morning Britain hit with 2,300 Ofcom complaints over Richard Madeley’s ‘disgusting’ question to GMB guest
Richard has previously been involved in a number of controversies
MORE than 2,000 viewers today complained to Ofcom about Good Morning Britain after Richard Madeley was slammed for asking “disgusting” questions.
The ITV Richard was criticised and later apologised after asking the Liberal Democrats‘ British-Palestinian MP Layla Moran whether her family in Gaza knew of the terror attack in advance.
The breakfast show received complaints from a whopping 2,378 viewers.
Richard asked Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West & Abingdon: “With your family connections in Gaza, did you have any indication of what was going to happen ten days ago, two weeks ago?
“Was there there any word on the street?”
“Not this, not this”, the stunned MP replied.
“Everyone, everyone has been surprised first of all by the timing and sophistication and they way that it’s happened.”
Richard’s question caused some offended viewers to complain online – with social media users slamming the comments as “disgusting”, “appalling” and “indefensible”.
A Good Morning Britain (GMB) spokesperson later said Richard’s intentions were to “understand the mood and atmosphere” in Gaza – not to cause upset.
A statement read: “Richard is sorry that he has upset viewers with his question to Layla Moran.
“His intention was to understand the mood and atmosphere amongst the civilian population of Gaza immediately before the attacks.
“He asked Layla about her family in Gaza City because she had discussed speaking to them earlier in the interview.
“He did not mean to imply that she or her family might have had any prior knowledge of the attacks.”
It comes after he was this morning was criticised for his “disgusting” questioning of the son of a Hamas kidnapping victim.
The presenter interviewed Noam Sagi, whose 75-year-old mum Ada Sagi remains held in captivity by Hamas.
Madeley asked Mr Sagi whether he felt “comforted” by hearing hostages were receiving some food and water.
And he suggested the captives were being received “relatively reasonable treatment” despite Yocheved telling of being “beaten”.
Noam paused before replying: “Richard, we wouldn’t have the conversation if it would be good guys on the other side.
“That wouldn’t be the case, you wouldn’t talk to me right now.”
He has been involved in a series of controversies since starting work as a relief presenter on GMB in 2017.
The Sun Online has approached ITV for comment.