Plus-size blogger hits back at Loose Women for ‘fatphobic’ remarks about her video: ‘I wasn’t given a chance’-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro

Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne was discussed on Loose Women without being given a chance to defend herself (Picture: Credit REX / Kirsty Leanne)

Plus-size travel blogger Kirsty Leanne has slammed as ‘unfair’ the fact that Loose Women discussed her video without giving her a chance to comment.

Travel creator Kirsty has been creating content since 2014 as she shares with her followers all the different countries she explores, and the sometimes difficult reality of travelling in a larger body.

Her Plus Size Travel Too website, as well as her Instagram and TikTok, gives an honest insight into the difficulties plus-size people face when travelling, from requesting seat belt extenders to the food trays not descending all the way down.

Kirsty shares her experiences to advise other larger people on what to expect when they travel with certain airlines, and one of her videos was discussed on Loose Women recently.

However, Kirsty told Metro.co.uk, they did not contact her before discussing her video and she was not offered a chance to comment or appear on the show for balance.

On the show, Janet Street-Porter said she had ‘very little sympathy’ for people in that position, and said ‘normal-sized’ passengers ‘weren’t getting special treatment,’ suggesting others would have to pay more if planes were to accommodate larger people.

The blogger shares her travel tips with other plus-size people (Picture: Kirsty Leanne )

The show did not name Kirsty or share her recent video about traveling on Ryanair, however the blogger ‘knows’ it was about her and said she learned she was being discussed when her mother contacted her.

‘I had a call from my Mum who said that my aunt had messaged her saying they were talking about me on Loose Women and did I know about it,’ she said, adding she ‘immediately’ went to watch the clips online.

Kirsty later took to Twitter where she complained she had not been contacted by the show or offered a chance to appear on the panel for balance, saying she ‘wasn’t given a chance to share [her] thoughts.’

Kirsty accused Loose Women of using the segment to make ‘fat-phobic’ comments (Picture: Kirsty Leanne)

Now, speaking to Metro.co.uk, she said: ‘I would have liked to have been contacted for comment because I feel like it’s unfair of them to discuss an issue they cannot relate to and not share both sides, especially with the platform that they have.

‘I have lots of experience flying in a larger body and at the very least, I would have been able to share my point of view.’

Reacting to Janet’s comments, Kirsty said she believes the panelist ‘shouldn’t have been able to comment on because she doesn’t have to face this issue herself. ‘

Janet said she had ‘little sympathy’ for people in Kirsty’s position and said ‘normal-sized’ passengers could pay more to accommodate plus-sized people (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

She argued that plus-size people being accommodated on flights does not mean that ‘cost people like her more money to fly.

‘Had I been invited to the show, I would have been able to say that isn’t the case.’

‘There are lots of ways in which plus-size people can be accommodated that wouldn’t increase the price of a ticket for anyone else,’ Kirsty said.

‘But instead, they choose to use it as an excuse to be fatphobic.’

On the same show, Coleen Nolan suggested that ’embarrassing moments’ for plus-size people travelling could be necessary to make them realise they should lose weight, but Kirsty disagreed.

Coleen Nolan suggested on the show that plus-size people sometimes need ’embarrassing moments’ to ‘kick start’ themselves to lose weight (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

She said that ‘while this may be the case for a small handful of people, these moments only reiterate that we’re not welcome in society – often having an even more negative effect in the long run.’

Kirsty, unfortunately, knows this from first-hand experience.

‘This is not the first time it has happened,’ she said.

‘I have gone viral for a number of things in the past and have had famous YouTubers… weigh in with some pretty terrible comments.

‘I would like to say I am used to it but unfortunately, I am not.’

Kirsty has sadly been targeted by trolls before because of her blog, which she set up to give ‘tips and tricks’ to people travelling in larger bodies (Picture: Kirsty Leanne)

Kirsty started her blog in the hopes she could begin ‘a nice little community of plus-size people who need tips and tricks,’ but says ‘as it goes further out in the world, the more people are going to be unhappy with what I have to say.

‘To me, I help those that need encouragement and advice when it comes to travelling while plus-size but to others, I am encouraging plus-size people to stay fat.

‘Of course, that’s not my intention as my content is there to show plus-size people that they can live their lives no matter what stage of their journey they’re at. Whether they’re losing weight, struggling to lose weight or not trying at all.

More: Trending

‘We all deserve to experience the joy and happiness that comes with travel.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Loose Women for comment.

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