Phillip Schofield has defended his This Morning co-host Eamonn Holmes as he faced criticism over a “sleazy” joke about Schofield’s sexuality.
Schofield, 57, announced yesterday on social media that he is gay. Appearing later on This Morning, the star gave an emotional and impassioned interview in which he discussed his internal battle with his sexuality throughout his 27-year marriage to his wife.
Eamonn Holmes then attempted to lighten the mood with a joke that many considered to be in poor taste.
“I’m disappointed in a couple of ways,” Holmes said. “First of all I thought you were going to come in and announce you had resigned and I could have your job, but that wasn’t to be.
“And the second thing, there is this great imponderable in life that has always bothered me, I thought how come he can sit in a hot tub with Holly Willoughby and [your wife] Steph doesn’t have a problem and [Willoughby’s husband] Dan doesn’t have a problem.”
Schofield shrugged off the joke, laughing: “Holly’s the sister I never had.” But viewers at home were far from impressed.
But honestly Eamonn, that was disgusting. Using his moment to be a creep about “sitting in a hot tub with Holly”, and how now he knows why his wife was okay with it. You ruined this sweet moment by turning it into something sleazy. You should be ashamed. #ThisMorning
— ⧗ vee-money ⧗ (@dametokillfor) February 7, 2020
Eamon Holmes comments about Phillip Scofield being in a hottub with Holly Willoughby, is embarrassingly unhelpful 🤦🏼♂️
— Archie Ratcliffe (@RatcliffeAr) February 7, 2020
Good to see big Eamonn Holmes treating Philip Schofield coming out with the sensitivity it deserves by saying that he wondered why Philip was allowed in a hot tub with Holly
— STILL No1 For Feminism. And Horse Racing (@JoeStephenson96) February 7, 2020
“Making tin-eared comments about [a person’s] sexual availability to you or others serves only to feed homophobia,” wrote Justin Myers in the i.
“You immediately disempower the person coming out, making assumptions, switching the narrative to yourself.”
But Schofield himself has now cleared the air. He tweeted in defence of his colleague, insisting that he wasn’t offended and is glad Holmes “lightened” the moment.
“Can I just say that @EamonnHolmes & @RuthieeL were utterly magnificent with me today, privately downstairs just the three of us and upstairs in front of the world. I couldn’t have hoped for a better, calming and loving set of hugs and support, I adore them both,” he wrote.
“And for the record, @EamonnHolmes made me laugh, he lightened a very emotional moment and I’m very happy that he did.”
1/2 Can I just say that @EamonnHolmes & @RuthieeL were utterly magnificent with me today, privately downstairs just the three of us and upstairs in front of the world. I couldn’t have hoped for a better, calming and loving set of hugs and support, I adore them both.
— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) February 7, 2020
2/2 and for the record, @EamonnHolmes made me laugh, he lightened a very emotional moment and I’m very happy that he did ❤️
— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) February 7, 2020
Holmes also rebuffed the criticism by sharing a picture that “paints a thousand words”.
A picture paints a thousand words.
This is a man who was in pain , who today confided in Ruth and I and who knows we stand in support of him, his family and his sexuality …. Also unlike some, he appreciated a laugh to break the tension. @Schofe hoping you find happiness. 👏👏👍 pic.twitter.com/p7RuE7H8uY— Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) February 7, 2020