Viewers criticise Anne Robinson’s ‘disgusting’ questions after viral Weakest Link clip resurfaces
A video of The Weakest Link host Anne Robinson questioning a contestant over receiving benefits and her personal life has gone viral.
Robinson served as host of the popular BBC quiz show from 2000 to 2012.
The resurfaced clip has attracted widespread criticism from viewers calling out Robinson’s “unflinchingly cruel jokes”.
In the clip, which has since been watched nearly 2 million times, the presenter is seen questioning a contestant on the programme named Ann.
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After Ann discloses that she is a full-time single mother to three sons, Robinson asks her: “So how many Asbos [anti-social behaviour orders]?” before adding: “How many of your three boys have got tags on their ankles?”
Beyond disgusting and nasty, cant believe this was even allowed pic.twitter.com/Im06MzobgW
— Its all a bit mad really (@chibiandchill) February 15, 2021
“Well, none so far,” replies Anne, to which Robinson follows up with a second question: “You doing benefits, are you?”
“I knew, I was waiting for this,” says the contestant. “I’m doing a 24/7 job really”. The host continues her line of questioning, asking: “Are you on benefits?” to which Anne responds that she is.
Another moment in the clip sees Robinson ask: “What happened to the husband? You didn’t go gay, did you?”
I don't know what this programme is, nor which channel, but I would like the chance to write to whoever to complain. Bad taste doesn't begin to cover it. It's vindictive and reinforces stereotypes. As far as I'm concerned it contains 'hate' speech. Disgusting.
— Beverley S S (@TalktoBeverley) February 16, 2021
I appreciate that this was scripted. it’s nasty, degrading & abhorrent. The lady may have known what questions were about to be asked. However It pushes a very disturbing narrative, that has been fed insidiously to us. Whether we’re conscious of it or it or not.
— summer rain 🌻 🌿💚 🕊🇪🇺🇬🇧🐝 (@skypanda476) February 16, 2021
Utterly disgraceful. Such contempt for working class people.
— Zainab (She/Her) (@ZayZee00) February 15, 2021
Absolutely. Demonising people on benefits has been going on for years. You only have to look at programmes such as Benefit Street. We go on about racism, quite rightly, but never consider the rampant classism that is now acceptable and pushed by those in power. Disgusting.
— Help! I’m trapped on Plague Island. (@HousleyRoy) February 16, 2021
Viewers on social media have expressed outrage over Robinson’s questions. “How did that make the edit? What a disgusting line of questioning,” wrote one user.
Another added: “I honestly can’t believe this was allowed to happen. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
“Bad taste doesn’t begin to cover it,” wrote a third person. “It’s vindictive and reinforces stereotypes. As far as I’m concerned it contains ‘hate’ speech. Disgusting.”
I was in the audience for this once and, to be fair, Anne Robinson was absolutely lovely to the contestants when not filming and apologised for giving them a hard time, etc. It seemed to all be part of the ‘nasty’ act and the contestants seemed to know that.
— Emma O (@squashed_pea) February 16, 2021
It was set up to be like that. From outfits she wore etc. It was pantomime stuff really. Need to put that context in. Otherwise it wouldn't be shown. The public that watched knew that .
— peter-maurice (@petermauriceuk) February 16, 2021
Others, however, have defended the presenter, stating that Robinson’s “cruel” persona was a well-known aspect of the show and claiming that contestants were aware of what to expect prior to appearing on the programme.
One person who claimed to have been in the live audience for an episode of The Weakest Link, wrote: “To be fair, Anne Robinson was absolutely lovely to the contestants when not filming and apologised for given them a hard time.
“It seemed to all be part of the ‘nasty’ act and the contestants seemed to know that.”
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Another person said: “It was set up to be like that. From outfits she wore etc. It was pantomime stuff really. Need to put that context in.”
“I appreciate that this was scripted,” replied one user. “The lady may have known what questions were about to be asked. However, it pushes a very disturbing narrative that has been fed insidiously to us.”
The clip’s popularity follows shortly after it was announced that Robinson would be replacing Nick Hewer as the new host of Countdown.