Cat Deeley has apologised after a remark she made on television was highly criticised for being “offensive”.
The TV presenter, who is currently This Morning’s fixed host alongside Ben Shepherd, received backlash online from viewers after making a joke about having a seizure.
During a segment in which she and Shepherd were welcoming viewers back after a break, and introducing singer Meghan Trainor, Deeley began dancing to Trainor’s hit track ‘All About That Bass’.
When the cameras panned towards the presenters to cue their dialogue, Deeley said: “Nothing to see here,” as she stopped dancing. When Shepherd asked her if she was OK, Deeley replied: “Yeah I’m fine. Just having a seizure. Welcome back.”
Many viewers took to social media to express their disapproval, with one writing on X: “People die from seizures and epilepsy is a life threatening condition and I am so appalled at Cat Deeley and This Morning for airing this, there needs to be more awareness for epilepsy”.
Another wrote: “When we have celebrities making inappropriate remarks and references about epilepsy, is it any wonder some people with a diagnosis are afraid of stigma and misunderstanding? Need some awareness training @catdeeley @ITV? It’s inappropriate and offensive.”
hey everyone! I don’t generally post twice in a day but this needs addressing
People die from seizures and epilepsy is a life threatening condition and I am so appalled at Cat Deeley and This Morning for airing this, there needs to be more awareness for epilepsy pic.twitter.com/nDmGzGoS8P— Pippa Meadowcroft (@MeadowcrftPippa) June 17, 2024
When we have celebrities making inappropriate remarks and references about epilepsy, is it any wonder some people with a diagnosis are afraid of stigma and misunderstanding? Need some awareness training @catdeeley @ITV?
It’s inappropriate and offensive.https://t.co/psN6lapwjR
— Simon Privett (@SimonPrivett) June 17, 2024
Deeley directly addressed viewers the following day in a segment on the show, saying: First of all, I just wanted to apologise to anyone who was offended yesterday when I made a light-hearted comment about my dancing style.”
“It really wasn’t supposed to cause any upset to anybody, but I can see why that might have been the case, so I do apologise,” she continued. “I’m very sorry. It didn’t come from that place at all.”
Several epilepsy charities criticised Deeley for her comment, with Young Epilepsy writing: “We’re extremely disappointed to hear @catdeeley on @ThisMorning making a joke of seizures. There are more than 100,000 children and young people who live with epilepsy in the UK. Seizures significantly impact their life – they are not something to be ridiculed or joked about.”
We're extremely disappointed to hear @catdeeley on @ThisMorning making a joke of seizures. There are more than 100,000 children and young people who live with epilepsy in the UK. Seizures significantly impact their life – they are not something to be ridiculed or joked about.
— Young Epilepsy (@youngepilepsy) June 17, 2024
Just 2 months ago for Purple Day, @catdeeley you helped raise awareness about epilepsy & still end up saying something thoughtless.
Your careless use of language has real consequences for people with epilepsy who already face so much stigma.
This is why we need more awareness! https://t.co/UffAd3SPnd
— Epilepsy Action (@epilepsyaction) June 17, 2024
On yesterday's episode of @thismorning ,Presenter @catdeeley made an impromptu and ill-judged remark about seizures, today she rightfully apologised for her comment.
Our Chief Executive @ClarePelham said "We all make mistakes, and often something good can come from a (1/3) pic.twitter.com/QaaEs3oWok
— Epilepsy Society (@epilepsysociety) June 18, 2024
Epilepsy Action called out Deeley for helping “raise awareness about epilepsy” not long ago, but still “saying something thoughtless”. “Your careless use of language has real consequences for people with epilepsy who already face so much stigma. This is why we need more awareness!” they wrote on X.
Epilepsy Society had pleaded with This Morning and Deeley to “please do better and educated yourselves about this difficult and poorly understood condition,” and their Chief Executive has since addressed Deeley’s apology. Clare Pelham said: “We all make mistakes, and often something good can come from a mistake. We hope that will be the case at This Morning.”
She continued: “There is so much that they could do to improve understanding of seizures and the right way for the public to respond to them. This is particularly important for people with epilepsy who live with stigma every day.”
“I would like to thank Cat Deeley for her apology on This Morning,” she added. “We understand that it is difficult on live TV for every remark to be well-chosen and well-expressed.”