GMB viewers in uproar over ‘rude and disrespectful’ Debbie Arnold’s ‘ageist’ comments about Joan Collins, 90, as actress, 68, says: ‘If you had sex with her she’d fall to pieces’
GMB viewers up in arms over ‘rude and disrespectful’ Debbie Arnold’s ‘ageist’ comments about Joan Collins, 90, as actress, 68, says: ‘If you had sex with her she would fall to pieces’
Good Morning Britain viewers are in uproar over actress Debbie Arnold’s comments about Joan Collins on Monday’s show.
Actress Debbie, 68, waded into a debate with journalist Dawn Neesom, 58, over whether you can be a sex symbol at 60, after Strictly’s oldest contestant, Angela Rippon, 78, stunned viewers with her high kick in the air .
Dawn said: ‘To be a sex symbol you have to be a certain age. It’s about having confidence in your own body, in your experience.
‘It’s about having self-confidence, and younger people don’t have that. A true sex symbol has va va voom and character and personality.”
Host Richard Madeley, 67, said: ‘Kylie Minogue is more of a sexual figure now than she was twenty years ago.
That’s not very nice: GMB viewers were in an uproar on Monday over ‘rude and disrespectful’ Debbie Arnold’s (left) ‘ageist’ comments about Joan Collins, 90, while actress, 68, said: ‘If you have sex with her if she had, she would fall to pieces
Looking good: Dame Joan has long been regarded as a sex symbol, even at the age of 90 – pictured earlier this year
Unimpressed: Susanna Reid grimaced as the debate between Debbie and journalist Dawn Neeson (right) droned on
Dawn added: ‘We’re talking about the love island generation, those young men and women are sexy but they’re not sex symbols.
‘Today we have people like Helen Mirren (aged 78), who is incredibly sexy, and Joan Collins (aged 90), who is amazing.’
Debbie chimed in, “Come on, really. A sex symbol is someone you want to have sex with. If you had sex with Joan, she would fall to pieces.
“Do you really think men want to have sex with her now?”
Her words were followed by an awkward silence in the studio.
Joan is happily married to Percy Gibson, believed to be 58 years old. They married in February 2002.
And viewers were the most unhappy with Debbie’s words, including Susanna Reid, 52, who made a face.
They said, ‘Omg. My jaw dropped at that woman’s comment about Joan Collins, how rude, distasteful and disrespectful… unbelievable from an older woman who should have learned class in her years.’
‘Rude, distasteful and disgusting’: Fans did not respond very kindly to the comments on X (formerly known as Twitter)
“Shake her and she falls to pieces?” One of the nastiest and most disrespectful things I’ve heard in a while. #gmb #ageism Joan Collins is beautiful AND stylish, a rarity.’
‘#GMB. God, what a horrible thing to say about Joan Collins.
‘How stupid is this woman. Doesn’t she think Joan Collins is a sex symbol for older men? It’s not just about the younger generation.’
A look back in time: Joan, pictured circa 1955, as Hollywood ruled for years
On the list: Dawn also branded Helen Mirren, 78, as a sex symbol – pictured in May 2023
Lucky: Joan celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary with Percy at Claridge’s hotel in London’s Mayfair earlier this year (pictured together in 2020)