Good Morning Britain’s Adil Ray sparks outrage for ‘fat-shaming Luke Littler live on show’ – as livid viewers vow to call Ofcom and demand an apology

Good Morning’s Adil Ray has sparked outrage over Luke Littler’s fat-shaming live on the show, as furious viewers vowed to call Ofcom and demand an apology.

On Thursday, hosts Adil Ray, 50, and Kate Garraway, 57, discussed 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler’s win against Nathan Aspinal in the World Darts Championship.

Littler picked up £100,00 after beating his 33-year-old rival 5-1 at Alexandra Palace and remains in the running for the £500,000 prize money as he progresses to the semi-finals.

It comes after the darts prodigy was named Young Sports Personality of the Year by the BBC on December 17.

Despite his fantastic performances, Adil felt it necessary to express his ‘concerns’ about the teenager’s health.

He turned to Kate and said, “I have to say, and this may not be very popular, I’m a little worried about Luke. He is seventeen and starting to look like a darts player.

‘Yes, yes. If I was his mom and dad, I mean, he’s kind of… look at him.”

Like most young people, Luke has previously said that he likes to eat treats such as pizza, kebabs and Swizzels Squashies sweets before a match.

Commenting on this, Adil added: ‘He has admitted that he eats pizzas before a match and sits there playing computer games. I think I’m a little worried.’

With a raised eyebrow, Kate replied, “You too? But he’s so successful!’.

“I know!” Adil replied: ‘But he will become more and more successful and he will continue to do it. I’m just worried.’

When Kate asked if Adil was “worried about him” and if he “doesn’t think it’s very healthy,” he said, “Yes, I don’t want him to get too unhealthy.”

Kate tried to make light of the awkward conversation by joking, “Really? Okay, why don’t you come over with a carrot? Look how that turns out.’

Adil then laughed and said he would give Littler a Pret salad just before the final.

Mother-of-two Kate defended Littler’s eating habits, saying: ‘To be fair, a lot of 17-year-olds like pizza, don’t they?’

“I know, I know,” Adil said as he pulled away, adding, “I’m just a little worried. But he’s brilliant, I absolutely love him, he’s just amazing.’

Viewers were outraged by Adil’s comments, taking to social media platform X to demand he apologize and asking TV regulator Ofcom to investigate.

One wrote: ‘@GMB This despicable individual fat shamed a 17 year old darts player. @Ofcom this is disgusting.’

‘Wow @adilray body-shaming Luke Littler on live TV, call to @Ofcom needed @GMB He’s not even that heavy. I bet Adil hasn’t even seen the inside of a gym yet,” said a second.

A third echoed: ‘@GMB Seriously, Fat shaming live on morning TV @Ofcom should investigate this shocking behaviour.’

A fourth called for the presenter to be removed from the show, saying: ‘@GMB please dump that Adil Ray! I hope he publicly apologizes to Luke Littler after making derogatory comments about him.”

Speaking to angry viewers, one said: ‘I can’t believe Adil Ray’s body shaming on this morning’s GMB about Luke Littler. This program will have published disapproving articles about body shaming in the past. Leave the young boy alone. Would he have said that about a woman? I think an apology is in order.”

To which someone else responded: ‘And to think @adilray is also a patron of a children’s charity!!’

In 2017, Adil was appointed Patron of Acorns Children’s Hospice, the largest children’s hospice charity in the UK and the world.

Acorns provides vital care for babies, children and young people with critical and critical lives, and their families, across England.

Elsewhere, other viewers said they were ‘disgusted’ by Adil’s comments ‘a big shame for a young sports star’ and that he should be ‘ashamed of himself’.

One said: ‘@GMB Disgusted watching Adil Ray get away with insulting Luke Littler by fat shaming him. Kate Garraway then tried to make it clear that he was concerned about the health of darts players. Adil has spent his entire career making unacceptable jokes about people under the guise of comedy!’

Others pointed out that the joke about Littler’s health was a negative way to ring in the new year.

‘@GMB your host is making fun of Luke Littler, a 17 year old boy is unacceptable and unnecessary. It’s clearly a bitter and unhappy New Year for Adil and Kate,” one person said.

Another commented: ‘Nice to see Adil on @GMB unnecessarily worrying about someone’s weight. Happy New Year to you too…’

It’s not the first time a Good Morning Britain presenter has insulted viewers with fat, shaming comments.

In June 2024, Andi Peters faced backlash online for a comment he made to Ranvir Singh.

Andi noticed Ranvir shopping online when he caught a glimpse of her laptop screen and said, “I wouldn’t get that in any medium, Ranvir.”

Fans took to social media at the time to shame Andi for getting away with being “rude about a lady’s weight” and saying that “anyone else would get fired and lose their job.”

In September 2020, former Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan felt Andi had shamed him live on air.

Piers had opened up about how he almost gained a stone during lockdown, but was left feeling upset when Andi appeared on screen doing a jumping exercise and made a harsh joke.

He said: ‘Good morning Susanna, good morning captain! This is what you need to do, skip it a little bit.”

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV1 and can be streamed on ITVX.