ITV Loose Women's Denise Welch rips into TV star live on air over Meghan Markle
Denise Welch has caused a stir as she fiercely defended Meghan Markle live on air, clashing with TV star Dickie Arbiter. Meghan Markle has faced constant criticism since joining the Royal family and Denise Welch is fed up with the ongoing backlash.
The Loose Women panelist was visibly irate this Monday, May 6, when Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III before his ascension last year, joined the studio to discuss the monarch's cancer battle.
While the conversation started off smoothly, it inevitably veered off course when Dickie broached the contentious topic - can the monarch ever mend his strained relationship with his son, Prince Harry?
Royal enthusiasts will remember that Prince Harry, along with his wife Meghan, chose to step down from their roles as senior working royals for a new life in America, a decision that has led to increased scrutiny of the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan also faced a barrage of criticism when she first started dating Prince Harry in 2016. The couple have publicly denounced the negative media attention they've received, both individually and as a couple, as well as parents to their two children, Archie and Lilibet, reports the Mirror.
For Denise, Meghan and Harry's choice to leave Windsor and Frogmore Cottage behind was nothing short of logical. Tensions flared quickly as she passionately defended them, calling out Dickie for his own criticism of Meghan Markle.
"If I may say, do you not think there is a reason why Harry did such a thing? ", the 65 year old initially asked, referring to the Duke's decision to leave the UK for the US.
Denise then summarised the heartbreak surrounding King Charles III's family, wounds first stemming from the monarch's marriage with Lady Diana "when he was in love with Camilla."
"It ruined a lot of Diana's life", Denise claimed. She then recalled how a young Prince Harry witnessed his mother's death after a fatal car chase with paparazzi before he was forced to walk publicly behind her coffin and accept Queen Camilla as his stepmother.
"Then he has a wife who is completely and continually trashed by the media, including your good self", Denise added while turning to Dickie, while some audience members began to applaud her. "I am just sick to death of the bashing that this woman gets (...) we continually berate this woman every day."
When Dickie argued that the Sussexes have received criticism over their choice to leave the Royal Family, Denise furiously doubled down: "Why would they not walk out? Why would they want to spend their life in a country that hated them? ".
Coleen Nolan quickly intervened to stop the situation from escalating, reminding the panellist that she hadn't expected a "debate" to take place in the studio. But Denise continued to seethe as she added: "don't have a guest on (...) I can say what I like! ".
This segment left many ITV viewers slack-jawed as they flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to share their opinions. "Well done Denise, you wiped the floor with Dickie. Thankyou for not being scared to be a voice for H@M", commented one viewer.
Another agreed: "Makes me laugh that people are saying Denise isn't nice for standing up for Meghan and Harry, yet it's fine for so many "nice" people to have s****** them off for the past 6+ yrs", just as a third applauded the panellist for her strong stance: "Well said Denise, you are the voice of fairness and reason."
However, one TV watcher predicted a reprimand was ahead for Denise due to Coleen's intervention. "I think Denise is going to be getting a firm talking to when @loosewomen is off air! However if she is passionate about a subject why shut her down? I thought #LooseWomen promotes strong women and opinions? ".