Entertainment
Ofcom assessing complaints after LBC presenter Steve Allen’s Tilly Ramsay bodyshaming comments
Steve Allen has been criticised for his comments (Picture: LBC)
Ofcom has confirmed it is assessing complaints after LBC presenter Steve Allen called Strictly Come Dancing’s Tilly Ramsay a ‘chubby little thing’ on his radio show.
The 67-year-old host has come under fire for his comments, with old bodyshaming remarks – including calling Gemma Collins ‘the hut’ – also coming to light.
Steve had said of Tilly to his listeners: ‘She’s a chubby little thing, isn’t she? Have you noticed? Probably her dad’s cooking, I should imagine.’
A spokesperson for television and radio watchdog Ofcom told Metro.co.uk: ‘We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.’
Tilly responded to Steve’s remarks on Wednesday, saying she ‘won’t tolerate people that think it’s okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone’s weight and appearance’.
She blasted him for commenting on her appearance and reminding him she is a teenager, writing: ‘I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far.
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Tilly Ramsay is a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (Picture: BBC)
‘Steve please feel free voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance.
‘It’s such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative.
‘This isn’t the first and definitely won’t be the last comment made about my appearance and I accept that and I’m learning to accept myself.
‘But please remember that words can hurt and at the end of the day I am only 19 and I’m so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I have been able to take part in and I understand that being in the public eye obviously comes with its own repercussions and I’ve been aware of this from a young age.
‘However, I won’t tolerate people that think it’s okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone’s weight and appearance.’
She added the caption: ‘#bekind.’
All On The Board applauded Tilly for sticking up for herself, while a number of celebrities also voiced their support.
Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch hit out at Steve on today’s episode of Lorraine, saying it is ‘not the business’ of a male radio DJ to make ‘reductive’ remarks on her appearance.
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‘Stop commenting on people’s appearances – it’s not their business, and judging people by their appearance, there’s just so much more to women, there’s so much more to people.
‘It’s very reductive and that woman has so much more to her and she’s showing so much more. Why is he focusing on that?
More: Strictly Come Dancing
‘I do also believe that saying “chubby” as a derogatory word or “fat” or whatever… it’s just a size. We all have to get over our fatphobia, it’s not the worst thing you can be.’
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.
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What is Ofcom and what does it cover?
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day.
The watchdog makes sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Ofcom deals with most content on television, radio and video-on-demand services, including the BBC. However, if your complaint is about something you saw or heard in a BBC programme, you may need to complain to the BBC first.
Its rules for television and radio programmes are set out in the Broadcasting Code.
The rules in the Broadcasting Code also apply to the BBC iPlayer.
This Broadcasting Code is the rule book that broadcasters have to follow and it covers a number of areas, including; protecting the under-18s, protecting audiences from harmful and/or offensive material and ensuring that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.
Audiences can complain to Ofcom if they believe a breach of the Broadcasting Code has been made.
Every time Ofcom receives a complaint from a viewer or listener, they assess it to see if it needs further investigation.
If Ofcom decide to investigate, they will include the case in a list of new investigations, published in the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin.
An investigation is a formal process which can take some time depending on the complexity of the issues involved.
Ofcom can also launch investigations in the absence of a complaint from a viewer or listener.
