Denise Van Outen Apologizes to Angela Rayner After Viral Ibiza Party Video Shocks Fans
TV presenter Denise Van Outen has expressed her regret over the viral video she posted of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner partying in an Ibiza nightclub last August. In an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Van Outen clarified that the clip, which quickly gained widespread attention, was never intended to make headlines.
“It wasn’t a planned thing,” Denise admitted as she spoke about the video, which showed Rayner dancing in a club while on a trip to Ibiza. “I went to this nightclub called Hi, which is amazing, and I’m behind the camera on this”, reported by the Express.
Van Outen revealed that she had been partying with her brother when she noticed Rayner at the club. “My brother said to me, ‘Look, who’s behind us’. So I turned around, saw her—she actually was lovely, and she gave me a little cheers with her Prosecco glass,” Denise explained. The Deputy Prime Minister then joined in the festivities, dancing for a while, and Van Outen, already filming the DJ Fisher, inadvertently captured Rayner in the frame.
“I’ve got to be honest, I had no idea that would go so viral as much as it did, but she was really lovely. And I know she got a lot of flack for it,” she confessed.
Denise emphasized that Rayner had not been partying for long and was not drunk. “In her defence, she did only stay for probably less than an hour, and she wasn’t drunk, she just was having a nice time. Apparently, she knows Fisher, so that’s why she popped in. But, it was a great moment,” Denise explained.
Despite her defense, the video stirred controversy as it was posted just days after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s speech at 10 Downing Street, where he warned of “painful” economic measures ahead. Many found it distasteful for Rayner to be seen partying at a time when the country was facing a financial crisis.
“I’m so sorry Angela Rayner,” Denise added, referring to the nickname “Angela Raver” that emerged on social media after the video went viral. “I wasn’t with her—I was with my brother,” Denise clarified.
The clip sparked a media frenzy, with critics accusing Rayner of being tone-deaf. However, Denise maintained that Rayner was simply enjoying a brief moment of relaxation while on a rare night out.
Van Outen concluded, “I left at five in the morning. It was just a fun moment, but I never expected it to blow up like that.”