Wedding venue causes storm on Twitter after ‘OCD’ advert

A SWANSEA wedding venue has caused outrage after a tweet advertising for “slightly OCD” staff.

Fairyhill in Reynoldston, Gower, advertised various jobs at their venue on social media site Twitter.

The advert includes an image of plates and cutlery which are not straight with the caption “Slightly OCD? Then we’d like to hear from you”.

The tweet has been met with a number of angry responses from various people calling for the venue to reconsider the advert, labelling it “disgusting” and “inappropriate”.

One user responded: “I do have OCD. It’s got nothing to do with liking my cutlery straight, though.

“It’s more about distressing and intrusive thoughts of horrific self-harm and unbearable anxiety that my partner will die. So you might want to reconsider that advert.”

While another added: “OCD can increase vulnerability to suicide up to 10 times. It ruins lives. It’s worth reconsidering this.”

Cerith Jones also said: “I know others have said this already, but please do amend this. OCD isn’t as simple as wanting your cutlery in order, and the choice of words and images in this is damaging. Please change it. It’s a poor advert for a really nice place.”

Claire Carlile, tweeted: “Oh no Fairyhill Hotel, this is such a poor show, please re-think your use of the term OCD.

“You demonstrate such a lack of awareness and understanding of a serious condition that blights the life of so many.”

Leading national charity OCD-UK has also called the advert inaccurate and inappropriate.

Ashley Fulwood, chief executive of OCD-UK, said: “The attached job advert posted on Fairyhill hotel’s social media page was brought to our attention, and is drawing some anger from some of our social media followers.

“Are you aware that OCD is absolutely nothing to do with being a perfectionist?

“Did you know that someone who likes things a certain way, let’s say neat and tidy, is compelled to arrange things that way because of an unwanted, aggressive, intrusive thought?

“And in fact they might spend so much time trying to get the objects to ‘feel’ lined up that their ritual may take one, two, or even more hours just on that one issue.

“Are you still keen to seek someone with that form of OCD for your hotel now? I am sure the person that created that copy did not mean to offend, but sadly ignorance is no excuse for placing such a stigmatic and trivialising post.”

Fairyhill was unavailable for comment.