Eamonn Holmes has been slammed by fans for ‘ruining’ Phillip Schofield’s heartfelt announcement that he is gay on Friday’s episode of This Morning.
Viewers were left outraged after the Irish presenter, 57, made a ‘tacky’ hot tub joke and quipped that he thought he was getting his job just minutes after Phil, 57, broke down in tears live on television after coming out.
Phillip, who has been married to wife Steph for 27 years, revealed earlier on Friday in an emotional Instagram message that he is ready to ‘celebrate’ his sexuality after suffering years of ‘inner conflict’.
Slammed: Eamonn Holmes has been slammed by fans for ‘ruining’ Phillip Schofield’s heartfelt announcement that he is gay on Friday’s episode of This Morning
The television star then appeared on This Morning’s sofa on Friday to be interviewed by his best friend and co-host Holly, 38, as the two broke down in tears over the heartfelt announcement.
After Phillip’s emotional interview, Eamonn and wife Ruth Langsford, who present the Friday show, joined the duo on the sofa.
Showing their support to the ITV star, Eamonn said: ‘Nobody should be embarrassed about their sexuality.’
To which Phillip awkwardly responded: ‘I’m not,’ with Eamonn adding: ‘It’s fantastic you have spoken. We are all here by your side. We will be the first to stand beside you. It’s brilliant, mate, as long as Steph and the girls are happy.’
‘Tacky’: Viewers were left outraged after the Irish presenter, 57, made a ‘tacky’ hot tub joke and quipped that he thought he was getting his job just minutes after Phil, 57, broke down in tears live on television after coming out
Eamonn went on to joke that he was told the television star would be making an announcement and he thought he would be resigning so he could get his job.
He quipped: ‘I am disappointed in a couple of ways, first of all, I thought “big announcement from Phillip” I thought you were going to come in and announce you had resigned and I would take you job, so that wasn’t to be.
While he went on to joke about Phillip spending so much time with Holly in a hot tub, even poking fun at her ‘Willoughbooby’ nickname.
He added: ‘The second is there’s this great imponderable in life, which has always irritated me, I thought, “How come he can sit in a hot tub with Holly Willoughbooby and Steph doesn’t have a problem and Dan [Holly’s husband] doesn’t have a problem.”
‘I thought, she [pointing to wife Ruth] would have a problem, I thought “no, no”.
Phil was quick to change the subject, as he added: ‘This [Holly] is the sister I never had,’ with Holly adding: ‘We are very lucky, very blessed.’
Emotional: Phillip, who has been married to wife Steph for 27 years, revealed earlier on Friday in an emotional Instagram message that he is ready to ‘celebrate’ his sexuality after suffering years of ‘inner conflict’
Viewers were quick to slam Eamonn over his insensitive comments and even accused him of ‘ruining’ Phil’s heartfelt announcement.
One person said: ‘Eamonn being Eamonn and saying he wondered how Phil’s wife wasn’t worried that he worked alongside Holly so much. And now it makes sense because Phil is gay. [face palm emoji] #ThisMorning.’
A different user put: ‘A beautiful interview on #ThisMorning wrecked by Eamonn making a tacky hot tub joke,’ followed by a glaring emoji.
Another follower commented: ‘Eamonn ruined a very heartfelt moment there #ThisMorning.’
While a different account added: ‘But honestly Eamonn, that was disgusting. Using his moment to be a creep about “sitting in a hot tub with Holly”, and how now he knows why his wife was okay with it.
‘You ruined this sweet moment by turning it into something sleazy. You should be ashamed. #ThisMorning.’
Yet not all viewers were outraged and some fans defended Eamonn, insisting that he was just trying to ‘lighten the mood’.
One person said: ‘I thought that was hilarious, coming out as should be treated as a everyday natural thing, so Eamonn acting normal and having friendly banter with his friends is the perfect reaction.’
Another show watcher put: ‘Eamonn Holmes lifting the mood perfectly- saying he always wondered how Phillip got away with getting in a hot tub with Holly and their partners not kicking off [crying laughing emojis] High 5 to #PhillipSchofield #ThisMorning.’
While a different account added: ‘Good ol Eamonn Holmes “I thought the big news was that you were going to resign” ROFL #phillipschofield #ThisMorning.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
This Morning continues on weekdays at 10am on ITV.
