Whitney Thore Slams Eamonn Holmes for Conduct During Troubled Interview
0Reality TV star Whitney Thore has openly criticized GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes for his conduct during a past live interview, igniting discussions across social media and media outlets. In an interview with the Daily Star, 40-year-old Whitney, known for her TLC show My Big Fat Fabulous Life, recounted her 2015 interaction with the 65-year-old Holmes on Sky News. She stated, “I haven’t done any UK TV shows in about 10 years, but I would gladly go on any and all of them again except for [any with] Eamonn Holmes.”
Whitney further expressed her frustration, saying, “He conducted the absolute worst interview of my entire career, but other than that, my experience in the UK has always been so extremely lovely, and I love my time here so much.” Her comments highlight significant dissatisfaction with Holmes’ approach during their encounter.
During the contentious interview, Whitney addressed societal prejudices against overweight individuals, stating, “Fat people so often offend others in society and I find that it’s one of the last socially acceptable prejudices.” Holmes responded by questioning her health, probing, “But what about people concerned about you? I mean there might be people concerned you’re gonna keel over and die because maybe your body or your heart won’t be able to sustain all the enthusiasm that you have.”
Whitney held her ground, asserting, “I think that concern for health is often a mask to discriminate or be cruel to fat people. I’d actually like to break some stereotypes about fat people because at 380 pounds I’m not naive to the health issues that may come if I stay this weight. But I have no major health problems and I’ve never even had high blood pressure.”
Holmes continued to express his worries about Whitney’s well-being on air, noting potential health issues related to her weight. “I have to say, I advocate – I am overweight, I’m constantly lampooned for being overweight, but I do speak to you from concern,” he explained. “You’re doing your ankles no good, your knees no good, your hips no good, your heart probably no good. So I do think there is concern.”
He also questioned the purpose behind Whitney’s popular dance videos, wondering if they were part of an effort to lose weight or simply a celebration of enjoying life despite her size. This line of questioning left Whitney visibly uncomfortable, escalating the tension during the live broadcast.
Meanwhile, Eamonn Holmes himself has been battling significant health issues. After undergoing back surgery, the veteran broadcaster primarily uses a wheelchair, although he can walk short distances with a walker, according to the Express. In January last year, Holmes spoke candidly about his chronic pain and the possibility that he might never walk unaided again.
His mobility challenges prevented him from attending his mother Josie’s funeral in November 2023. Reflecting on his struggles, Holmes shared, “It’s as if somebody up there is playing with my life.” He added, “In the past year, I’ve had an operation on my back which went wrong and has confined me to a wheelchair. I’ve fallen and broken my shoulder. Honestly, you could not make it up.”
The exchange between Whitney Thore and Eamonn Holmes underscores ongoing tensions and challenges in media interactions, particularly regarding sensitive topics such as body image and health. Whitney’s outspoken criticism and Holmes’ personal struggles have both drawn significant attention, highlighting the complexities of public discourse on personal issues.