Roman Kemp's Capital show sparks Ofcom complaints for mocking company

Roman Kemp's Capital FM breakfast show has been hit with more than 100 Ofcom complaints after he and his co-stars mocked a small business selling crisp-stuffed chocolate bars.

Media regulator Ofcom revealed that the 15 January breakfast show had received 107 complaints after a discussion over a small business selling unusual chocolate bars was branded "bullying".

Kemp and his co-stars Sian Welby and Chris Stark laughed over the company Chocolate Moments and its product Bar of Crisps, which stuffs chocolate bars with crisps including flavours such as lamb and mint.

The show's presenters commented: "The website looks like a child's made it," as Welby, who is currently guest presenting This Morning, added: "Have I got a virus now on my computer or what?"

They also joked that it could be "some sort of con" and Welby joked: "They're probably just running this business out of their garage."

But the company's owner Maria Antoniou shared a clip of the discussion on Instagram, along with her shocked face reacting to comments which also mocked her for using a mobile number and her first name in her email address as contact details.

She wrote: "So many have said how triggering the comments, cackling and bullying behaviour is so I've added in a warning. So keen to hear your thoughts on the utter annihilation of my website, phone number, email...!!!"

In a later update, Antoniou added: "Two out of the three presenters have contacted me. I'll be really honest, the 'apology' I got was very flippant and not meaningful so that's very disappointing."

People commenting on her post were horrified, with one person writing: "Wow!! What a bunch of bullies!! They sound horrible! If they ever do a phone in you should call them and call them out on their behaviour!! How dare they ridicule someone’s business like that!"

Someone else commented: "What the actual F***. I think I’m most shocked by @romankemp #bekind. What did they do that for? What did they think was going to happen?!"

Another follower wrote: "I've sent complaints to all 3 presenters and @capitalofficial to express my disgust for their treatment of your small business...on live radio! How unfair and inconsiderate x", while someone else added: "Wow, that is brutal. that’s so unfair to be publicly offended by them. They should have at least reached out to you first."

One more commenter wrote: "Shocking behaviour & so judgmental! @romankemp @chrisstark @sianwelby do you even realise the damage you can or have caused!!! Small business do not need this, it’s hard enough as it is. Clearly you did no research, shame on you!"

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