Sunetra Sarker Slammed for Insensitive Comment About Simon Gregson’s Panic Attack on Loose Women

Loose Women presenter Sunetra Sarker has sparked outrage after making an insensitive remark during a discussion with Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson. The actor, who plays Steve McDonald in the long-running ITV soap, had opened up about suffering a panic attack just before the show, but Sunetra’s response to his revelation left viewers horrified.

While Simon was bravely sharing his mental health struggles, including a long battle with anxiety, Sunetra made a remark that many found tone-deaf. After Simon explained his panic attack, Sunetra quipped, “You might have a panic attack,” which immediately caused a backlash from viewers on social media, according to the Express.

One angry viewer tweeted: “You might have a panic attack. Did she really just say that to Simon Gregson after he opened up about having one before the show? F***ing hell. #LooseWomen.” Another user wrote: “Did Sunetra really just say that to Steve!? #LooseWomen.”

Simon, who was on Loose Women to raise awareness about mental health, courageously spoke about his 20-year battle with anxiety. He revealed that he nearly pulled out of the show after suffering a panic attack shortly before the appearance. “It all came to a head in 2015, I kept having anxiety attacks, panic attacks,” Simon explained. “Which is so bizarre because I’ve been having them all day today. I was like, ‘there’s no way I can go on.'”

The actor described the overwhelming sensation of panic, saying, “It just hits you like a tonne of bricks and makes you completely incapacitated. I’ve been having them since 1990, but I just got on with it.”

Simon also shared how his anxiety began affecting his family, particularly after having children. “When I had children and they were noticing it and they were getting anxious, I thought, ‘I’ve passed it on. It’s like a cold – I’ve given it to them,'” he said.

Viewers were quick to criticize Sunetra’s comment, with many feeling that it undermined the seriousness of Simon’s struggle with mental health. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the importance of being sensitive when discussing mental health, especially with those who are bravely sharing their personal experiences.