Katie Piper’s goth baby comments spark Loose Women Ofcom complaints
Katie Piper's comments about a "goth baby" that angered Loose Women viewers have led to a flurry of Ofcom complaints.
The TV star was part of a discussion about a mum's unusual home decor and her baby's outfit and nursery in the 22 December episode of the ITV1 show, but her strong opinions proved controversial with many.
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Piper and her co-stars Kaye Adams, Judi Love and Nadia Sawalha were talking about whether parents should impose their own tastes on their children after seeing social media posts of Reby Hardy's home, decorated in the style of the Addams family mansion after the release of Wednesday on Netflix.
Her photos showed a dark interior and her baby daughter wearing a Wednesday Addams-style dress.
Viewers were not impressed by Piper's comments as she said: "I don’t like that interior. It’s all black and dark. Babies don’t like that.
"I’m just going to put it out there, it’s giving me satanic vibes, it’s giving me bad energy, it’s toxic, I don’t like it and also, it’s a baby.
"The cot's a tomb. You can’t put your baby in a grave."
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Some people felt that her comments were judgmental and painted goths in a bad light, pointing Piper towards the charity set up in the name of murdered Sophie Lancaster who was attacked over her goth style.
One viewer tweeted: "I expect to see an apology from @KatiePiper_ in the coming days instead of being silent. This perspective of goth & alternative culture is what keeps those of us in it constantly penalised. @sophie_charity actually break stigmas equally, unlike Piper."
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Someone else commented: "Surprised at this from @KatiePiper_, it’s ok for it not to be your thing but never ok to slag people off.
"Please before you speak again take some time to look into @sophie_charity and the work Sylvia Lancaster put into stopping hate crime."
But while many viewers didn't like her comments, the 62 complaints that Ofcom received did not make it into the list of the most complained about TV moments of 2022.
Viewers were most outraged by two other ITV shows - the misogynistic behaviour of the male Love Island contestants over the summer, and former health secretary Matt Hancock's casting in reality contest I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! while serving as an elected MP.