Dancing On Ice Ofcom complaints continue to rise after Holly Willoughby’s ‘inappropriate’ dress and Rufus Hound’s criticism of the Government’s free school meals
- During the launch episode, Holly Willoughby shocked viewers with an ‘inappropriate’ plunging gown on the ‘family show’.
- While contestant Rufus Hound also launched an attack on the government’s handling of the free school meals scheme
- The ITV skating show was hit by 341 Ofcom complaints after the opening show, with the number now higher
- Comedian Rufus’, 41, remarks have now received 346 complaints while 52 viewers have complained to Ofcom over Holly’s, 39, dress
- It comes after it was claimed that Dancing On Ice is ‘refusing to axe’ Rufus after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced
- Over the weekend, it was also revealed that the comedian has had to pull out of the show for the next few episodes as he quarantines at home for 10 days
Dancing On Ice Ofcom complaints have continued to rise after the first show saw Holly Willoughby shock viewers with an ‘inappropriate’ plunging gown.
During the launch episode, contestant Rufus Hound also launched an attack on the government’s handling of the free school meals scheme.
The ITV skating show was hit by 341 Ofcom complaints after the opening show, with the number now higher.
Complaints: Dancing On Ice Ofcom complaints have continued to rise after the first show saw Holly Willoughby shock viewers with an ‘inappropriate’ plunging gown (pictured above)
Comedian Rufus’, 41, remarks have now received 346 complaints while 52 viewers have complained to Ofcom over Holly’s, 39, dress.
It comes after it was claimed that Dancing On Ice is ‘refusing to axe’ Rufus after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced last week.
Over the weekend, it was also revealed that the comedian has had to pull out of the show for the next few episodes as he quarantines at home for 10 days after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid.
MailOnline has contacted Dancing On Ice for comment over the new Ofcom figures.
Attack: During the launch episode, contestant Rufus Hound also launched an attack on the government’s handling of the free school meals scheme (pictured above)
The ITV skating contest got political during the action-packed launch show as Rufus slammed the Government over the recent free school meals scandal.
Rufus received the first Golden Ticket of the 2021 series, giving him and his professional partner Robin Johnston a free pass into musicals week.
And speaking about how he felt to have secured the ticket, Rufus told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that it was the ‘least mad thing’ to have happened as he referenced the free meals controversy.
‘I’ve spent most of this year not emotionally stable because the world does not make sense and this does not make more sense of it,’ Rufus said.
Rising: Comedian Rufus’, 41, pictured, remarks have now received 346 complaints
‘We live in a world where the people we elect don’t want to feed hungry children, this is the least mad thing that has happened to me in a long time.’
Ofcom stated earlier this month that there were 341 complaints made about the show, with the majority about Rufus’ comments about the government. Rufus’ remarks have now received 346 Ofcom complaints.
Complaints were also received about presenter Holly’s dress and the set-up of the programme given Covid rules, with 52 complaints over the host’s gown.
‘What a totally inappropriate outfit!’ 52 viewers have complained to Ofcom over Holly’s, 39, ‘totally inappropriate’ dress on the launch show
Comments: Some viewers thought the garment’s plunging neckline was inappropriate, as Dancing On Ice is a ‘family show’
Holly, 39, opted for a revealing couture dress by Dany Atrache from his Fall/Winter 2020-2021 collection, along with René Caovilla heels and Berganza jewellery.
Viewers quickly took to Twitter to express their discomfort surrounding the ‘inappropriate’ fashion choice, which saw Holly go braless underneath, on the ‘family show’. The dress retails for £6,240 ($7,000).
Rufus’ comment caused a stir on Twitter at the time, with the comedian tweeting after: ‘To the people who want to be cross with me – you were never going to be my friend. I wish it were different, but such is the world we now live in.
‘To everyone else, thanks for all your lovely messages. I will try to keep doing funny ice dances for you x’
His comments come after one school meals provider’s fare was branded as ‘appalling’ after the contents of one of its food hampers went viral.
Criticism: Dancing On Ice got political during the action-packed launch show as Rufus slammed the Government over the recent free meals scandal
Catering firm Chartwells announced it will start including breakfast in free school meal deliveries in response to the fierce criticism of its meagre parcels.
The breakfast will include bloomer, bagel, butter, yogurts, juice, milk, oats and fruit.
The catering firm has been scrabbling to reassure parents since photos began emerging of lunches lacking basic components of a rounded diet.
Boris Johnson had branded the boxes of seven-day supplies ‘disgraceful’ and told senior MPs the firm had been ‘hauled over the coals’.
Chartwells is part of a £24.8billion parent company whose links to the Tory party were revealed earlier this month.
Stir: Rufus’ comment caused a stir on Twitter at the time, with the comedian tweeting after: ‘To the people who want to be cross with me – you were never going to be my friend.’
Until December, millionaire Conservative donor Paul Walsh was the chairman of Compass and gave £10,000 to the party in 2010, Electoral Commission records show.
Ministers have also bowed to a public clamour and are reintroducing the option of food vouchers for parents.
Footballer and campaigner Marcus Rashford has also called for an urgent review of the government’s policy.
It comes after it was claimed earlier this week that Dancing On Ice bosses are ‘refusing to axe’ Rufus after historic tweets by the star using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced.
The Sun reports the comedian has been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets from the star emerged in which he used the word ‘r****d’ in 2011, referred to Ed Sheeran as a ‘gay lord’ and tweeted racist slurs including the n-word in 2012.
Controversy: His comments come after school meals provider Chartwells’s fare was branded as ‘appalling’ after the contents of one of its food hampers went viral
Response: Boris Johnson had branded the boxes of seven-day supplies ‘disgraceful’ and told senior MPs the firm had been ‘hauled over the coals’ (pictured earlier this month)
A source claimed to the website that ITV was being hypocritical with Hound – following the axing of I’m A Celebrity star Jack Maynard back in 2017 after tweets emerged of him using racist and homophobic slurs.
A source told the website: ‘Dancing On Ice have made their position clear and while Rufus’s tweets have been quietly condemned, right now it’s not being seen as an offence which would require his removal.
‘It seems there is one rule for some, and one for another. After Jack was taken off I’m A Celebrity for the same kind of tweets, it was assumed that Rufus would be told he should step down.
‘But it’s been made clear to those working on the show that they’re standing by him.’
A representative for Dancing On Ice declined to comment to MailOnline. A spokesman for Rufus Hound has also been contacted for comment.
Unearthed: The Sun reported earlier this week that Rufus has been told he ‘won’t be kicked off the show’ after old tweets from the star resurfaced in which he used offensive slurs (a tweet from 2012 which contained the n-word pictured)
Tweets: He also branded Ed Sheeran a ‘gay lord’ in a 2012 tweet and used the word ‘r****d’ in a 2011 tweet
Earlier this week it was reported Dancing on Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack.
The comedian stirred outrage among MPs and bomb victims who want him axed from the show for retweeting the unsubstantiated claims – coincidentally Mr Hound is now isolating for ten days after coming into contact with coronavirus and will not be appearing on this week’s show.
Mr Hound retweeted: ‘Given the attacker was known to MI5, the timing seems fortunate for May that an attack “slips through” as Labour are making progress.’
He then added his own comment, suggesting that May, the Prime Minister at the time of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombings, had planned the attack to help the Tories win the election, The Sun on Sunday reports.
The conspiracy theorist wrote: ‘Apologies for mild tinhattedness, but I’ve been thinking the same. Esp. as she was Home Secretary for so long.’
Report: Earlier this week, it was reported that Dancing On Ice bosses were facing calls to remove Hound from the show after he tweeted claims that Theresa May planned the Manchester Arena terror attack
Horror: A scene following the Manchester Arena attack at an Ariana Grande concert
He later tweeted that he was not suggesting it was true, but that he believed it could be possible, adding: ‘I guess I’m not really alleging it as true, more that I don’t believe our establishment is incapable of such evil. Especially during an election.’
MP Rob Halfon told The Sun on Sunday: ‘This is horrific.’These trivial remarks are deeply offensive to victims of the Manchester attack.’
Whilst another Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke told the publication that it was ITV’s ‘moral responsibility’ to ‘chuck out’ contestants using the show as a political platform.
Jade Clough, 33, from Stockport, who was hit by shrapnel at the Manchester attack carried out by Salman Abedi, told The Sun on Sunday that the claims were ‘outrageous’ and said the celebrity’s actions could make people feel it was ok to share similar unsubstantiated claims.
ITV declined to comment on the matter, MailOnline has contacted Hound’s representatives for comment.
Tweets: In a series of tweets made in 2017 Mr Hound shared his view that the government were not ‘incapable of such evil’
Ahead of the report on his historic tweets on Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts.
The thread read: ‘Hi there Occasionally for different reasons, people trawl through my timeline (I’ve been on this site for 11 years, so that’s a fair bit of material) to find stuff that they can take offence at or inspire offence in others with.
‘So, I just want to make something abundantly clear: When I was a stand-up and a younger man, the culture on here was much darker and edgier. I made jokes about race, sexuality, politics… everything.
‘You may not like those jokes. You may find those jokes offensive or upsetting. And if you do, there’s a very good chance that I hadn’t thought about them or the subjects they covered enough.
‘Hell, I put out a Comedy Central Special that was almost entirely about oral sex and when I watch it back (I have done this only once in the last 6 years) there’s stuff I wish I hadn’t said, or said differently or just flat out don’t like.’
He continued: ‘My point is this. For the last few years, I have largely absented myself from the pop mainstream. Stopped doing panel shows, only went on quizzes when I could win money for charities etc. Theatre’s what I’ve been doing and that comes at enormous personal cost.
‘Cost of time, money and relationships. But I LOVE it. As anyone who knew me from birth to 19 and they’ll tell you. It’s all I ever wanted to do. And now I get to do it. Or did, before… y’know….’
Response: Ahead of the report on his historic tweets on Sunday, Hound shared a link to tweets originally posted in September 2020, in which he responded to criticism of his posts
Regret: He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful’
He branded his past tweets ‘stupid and hurtful’, writing: ‘If anything I’ve said or tweeted in the past was stupid or hurtful, it’s because I can be stupid and hurtful. I, sincerely, try to understand and do better. Ask anyone who knows me. I am not short of thinking. Paralysingly, sometimes.
‘I’m not aware of anything specific coming my way, hand on heart. This isn’t one of those moments where my publicist has phoned me and said they’ve found my prints on the body (I don’t even have a publicist. Well, I did but they died in mysterious circumstances. And I wear gloves)
‘… it’s more that I just want to say people change. People grow. People improve. Whilst I still have endless improvements to make, undoubtedly, I’m trying.
‘So, if a load of old s**t I came out with years ago offends you or upsets you, know that there’s a very good chance it offends and upsets me too, which is why I stopped saying it.’
He continued: ‘I believe in equality of opportunity, in love as a superpower, in women. I believe you should be free to do anything you like as long as it doesn’t endanger the physical wellbeing of other people.
‘I believe that who you are and who you choose to be should be met with kindness by the world. I believe no one person has any more intrinsic value than any other. I believe we should be working together to make the world a better place for all of humankind.
‘I believe we can all be better if we choose to be and shouldn’t be defined by our worst days. I believe that, when all is said and done, Salt and Vinegar Squares are the absolute best crisps.’
‘And all I can ask you to think of me is this: Imperfect man, trying to be kind, sane and funny in an unkind, mad, bleak world. Thank you for coming to my [bloa]TED [sense of self regard] talk x.’
On Sunday the comedian has had to pull out of the show in accordance with government guidelines, which state that he now has to quarantine at home for 10 days.
Mr Hound was set to perform in a group routine on Sunday night and again the following week for his individual skate, but he will now be forced to miss both.
A spokesperson for ITV told MailOnline: ‘This week Rufus Hound came into contact with someone outside of the show who tested positive for Covid 19.
‘This means, following government guidelines, he will isolate for ten days. We are hoping to welcome him back to the ice soon.
‘We continue to have a robust set of measures in place to operate safely within Covid-19 guidelines and to ensure the wellbeing of everyone connected with the production.’
Sources say he has tested negative for the coronavirus and is now isolating at home.
They added that while Rufus will have to isolate, his professional partner Robin Johnstone will not as she hasn’t come into contact with anyone Covid positive.
She will not appear on Sunday evening’s show however. It is currently unclear whether the skating duo will return to the show once his isolation period ends.
Quarantine: On Sunday the comedian has had to pull out of the show in accordance with government guidelines, which state that he now has to quarantine at home for 10 days after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid
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