Bravo, Tilly... as she shames the body shamers
HE probably thought it was simply a glib aside as he poked fun at Strictly contestant Tilly Ramsay.
But the daughter of TV chef Gordon Ramsay yesterday hit back with a passion her father would be proud of after a radio DJ called her ‘chubby’ on air.
LBC presenter Steve Allen suggested the teenager was a ‘chubby little thing’ on the radio station’s early morning show.
But the 19-year-old then took to Instagram to express her hurt, stating that she ‘won’t tolerate people that think it’s okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone’s weight and appearance’.
The remarks were made by Allen after a comment from a listener informed him that Miss Ramsay was part of Celebrity MasterChef Australia.
He reacted: ‘Is she? Well, she can’t blimming well dance! I’m bored with her already.
‘She’s a chubby little thing, isn’t she? Have you noticed? Probably her dad’s cooking, I should imagine.’
But CBBC presenter Miss
‘At the end of the day I am only 19’ ‘Steve please feel free to voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance
Ramsay hit back against the body-shaming as she posted a response on her Instagram account alongside a clip of the radio host’s comments.
Her post said: ‘I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far.
‘Steve please feel free to voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance. It’s such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative.’
Miss Ramsay added: ‘This isn’t the first and definitely won’t be the last comment made about my appearance and I accept that and I’m learning to accept myself.
‘But please remember that words can hurt and at the end of the day I am only 19.’
She said that although she is grateful for the opportunities she has had and, while she understands being in the public eye comes with repercussions and has been aware of this since a young age, she won’t tolerate the public scrutiny of people’s weight.
Miss Ramsay’s Strictly co-stars were quick to ‘Chubby’ barb: LBC host Steve Allen come to her support. Tom Fletcher wrote: ‘What the actual hell? Tilly you are absolutely beautiful and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.’ Another contestant on the BBC show, John Waite, wrote: ‘He’s a piece of old sandpaper love, worn and used and has nothing to offer the world. And his vicious scratching has only left you polished and more fabulous. Love you.’ The teenager is partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin and also appearing on the prerecorded Celebrity MasterChef Australia. Allen, who has hosted the early morning show since 2000, was rapped by Ofcom in 2018 for controversial comments about a blind person who used a miniature guide horse instead of a dog. LBC was contacted for comment.