Kerry Katona lashes out over public's 'sexist' forgiveness of Ant McPartlin

Kerry Katona has slammed the public’s forgiveness of Ant McPartlin, following his drink-driving conviction and his issues with substance abuse.

McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were awarded their 18th consecutive award for Best Presenter at the National Television Awards last month.

They won despite McPartlin having taken most of the last year off to deal with his problems.

But the ex-Atomic Kitten singer, who has herself struggled with drug addiction, thinks its a case of double standards.

In her column in New! magazine, she said: “Ant McPartlin went to rehab for drink and substance abuse problems and he was forgiven in less than a year, but it’s taken me a decade!

“People are quick to slag off women – especially mothers – if they go off the rails, yet if it’s a man in showbiz, he’s right back in the saddle.

“Fair play to Ant, but it’s so unfair.”

McPartlin first went to rehab for painkiller addiction following an operation in 2017, but then hit headlines again for drink driving in 2018.

He had just less than a year off and is now recording the next series of Britain’s Got Talent for ITV after taking the last series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here off.

Katona was famously sacked as the face of supermarket Iceland, after it emerged she’d been using cocaine.

On McPartlin’s arrest, Katona tweeted: “Such sad news… really hope he finds help and peace.”

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