Show boss in odd rant over ‘toxic aubergines’
THIS Morning editor Martin Frizell has been slammed by an MP for his bizarre answer to questions about allegations of a poisonous atmosphere at his ITV show.
Asked if there is a “toxic” work environment at This Morning, he told Sky: “I’ll tell you what’s toxic and I’ve always found it toxic. Aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you?
“Do you like aubergine because I don’t like aubergine. It’s just a personal thing.”
John Nicolson MP, a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, tweeted: “This is a deeply inappropriate and disrespectful way to respond to questions about safeguarding vulnerable staff and bullying in the workplace at ITV.”
Bullying
Ex- This Morning host Eamonn Holmes and former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh alleged there was a “toxic” culture behind the scenes.
Eamonn claimed there was a “total cover-up” over the Schofield affair, while Dr Ranj said he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago and felt like he was then “managed out” for whistleblowing.
ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall wrote to Parliament on Wednesday saying an external review following a complaint by Dr Ranj found “no evidence of bullying or discrimination”.
Meanwhile, former This Morning head of news Emily Maddick, who worked on the show from September to December 2019, claimed she quit due to “bullying, sexism and a toxic culture of fear and intimidation”.
Mr Frizell told Sky News to “read between the lines” on claims of toxicity, adding: “I think there’s some scores being settled”.