Eamonn Holmes apologises for comparing Dr Zoe Williams’ hair to an alpaca’s: ‘I am mortified’

Eamonn Holmes has apologised for comparing Dr Zoe Williams’ hair to an alpaca’s on This Morning, saying that he feels ‘mortified’.

On Thursday’s edition of the ITV show, Eamonn and Ruth Langsford welcomed Dr Zoe to discuss the latest health headlines.

After Dr Zoe said that she would be talking about ‘how your health can be benefited from gardening and even alpacas’, Eamonn remarked: ‘Your hair reminds me of an alpaca today,’ before adding: ‘You just want to pet it, don’t you? It’s very alpaca-ish.’

Eamonn’s comments sparked outrage among This Morning viewers, with one person tweeting: ‘Did that really just come out of Eamonn’s mouth?’

Following the backlash and Dr Zoe’s segment on the programme, Eamonn tweeted an apology ‘to anyone who was offended’.

‘Hey everyone out there. If my attempt at being humorous with my friend @DrZoeWilliams was misjudged I am mortified and humbly apologise to anyone who was offended,’ he wrote.

One person who tweeted in response to Eamonn’s apology said that ‘making jokes about a black woman’s hair is never being “humorous” especially when comparing it to an animal’.

‘Eamonn I appreciate you felt this was in good humour, but please do better,’ they added.

‘The interesting bit is that she feels obliged to laugh along out of politeness. All black people are familiar with this. If she makes a scene, she loses the gig or is seen as humourless. “It was only a joke.” Every day as a black person is a negotiation and it’s exhausting,’ someone else replied.

This Morning viewers were outraged by Eamonn’s remarks (Picture: ITV)

After Eamonn made his remarks on This Morning, one person tweeted: ‘Uh Eamonn what tf was that about? Have u learnt nothing?! U never talk about petting a black woman’s hair. And saying it looks like an Alpaca?!’

Another viewer wrote: ‘Did @EamonnHolmes just tell a black woman her hair reminds him of an alpaca and he wants to pet her or am I hallucinating?!’

More: ITV

Someone else said that Eamonn was ‘totally out of order’ to make his comment about Dr Zoe’s hair, adding that the doctor ‘handled it so well’.

One viewer tweeted Eamonn describing his statement as ‘disrespectful’, telling Dr Zoe that her hair is ‘beautiful’.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

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