Holly Willoughby came under fire for speaking “hypercritical, sanctimonious paunch” on This Morning while “sympathizing” with environmentalist group Just Stop Oil – just a week after chartering a helicopter to Glastonbury.
On Thursday’s show, the presenter, 42, discussed the moment protesters stormed Wimbledon’s Court 18 and disrupted play by throwing orange confetti and a jigsaw during day three of the championship.
Holly said she could understand Just Stop Oil’s concern about climate change as she feared the planet was experiencing its warmest day since records began on Monday – a record that could soon be broken again.
But viewers called the TV presenter a ‘hypocrite’ after taking a fuel-guzzling helicopter from Battersea, London to Glastonbury in Somerset on a 216-mile journey.
Responding to the headlines, Nick Ferrari told Holly and her co-presenter Craig Doyle, “Many of my listeners have said ‘Please don’t cover up Just Stop Oil'”.
Angry viewers: Holly Willoughby came under fire for speaking ‘hypercritical, sanctimonious paunch’ on This Morning
Controversial: The presenter, 42, said she was ‘sympathetic’ to environmentalist group Just Stop Oil – just a week after she chartered a helicopter to Glastonbury (pictured)
Chaos: During Thursday’s show, the team discussed protesters who stormed Court 18 and disrupted play by throwing orange confetti and a jigsaw puzzle on Wednesday
Holly said, “But then you see, we measured the hottest day ever…”
Just Stop Oil has caused chaos at sporting events, including the Ashes and the Gallagher Premiership rugby final, in recent weeks as they protested that the UK government would stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects.
Nick replied, “We have a huge problem. Those spectators, what should they do? All that has happened is that their afternoon has been disrupted.
“We don’t make the decisions, so what are we going to do? You’re disrupting the cricket, the rugby…’
Holly said, “I know, I understand. But I think they hope someone higher up will make a difference.’
But viewers at home weren’t impressed with Holly and took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.
One wrote: “Holly says she understands Just Stop Oil because of the climate crisis, but likes to take a helicopter to Glastonbury, hypercritical sanctimonious paunch.”
Concern: Holly said she could understand Just Stop Oil’s concern about climate change as she was concerned about hearing the planet’s hottest day since records began
Disruption: British number one Katie Boulter was ‘shocked’ and ‘concerned’ when the Just Stop Oil activist stormed the Wimbledon ground where she was playing, throwing puzzle pieces
Focused: The upset didn’t stop Boulter, however, who won the match and advanced to the second round of the tournament
‘Hypocrite’: But viewers at home were unimpressed with Holly and took to Twitter to vent their frustrations
Another added: “Just listened to This Morning where the hypocrite Holly Willoughby defended stop oil and told us we had the hottest temperatures in the world recently and we need to do something… like fly to Glaso in a helicopter. They’re all laughing at us.
“I just listened to This Morning where the hypocrite Holly Willoughby defended stop oil and told us we had the hottest temperatures in the world recently and we need to do something… like fly to Glaso in a helicopter. They’re all laughing at us,” another viewer wrote.
‘Holly’s’ sympathizes with Just Stop Oil ‘while taking a helicopter to Glastonbury at the same time,’ added another.
British number one Katie Boulter was ‘shocked’ and ‘concerned’ when the Just Stop Oil activist stormed the Wimbledon pitch where she was playing, throwing puzzle pieces and confetti on the floor.
The disruptive protester, dubbed William John Ward by the group, ran onto court 18 at 4:25pm as Boulter played her game against Australian Daria Saville, where he was greeted with boos and jeers from the frustrated crowd before being run through court security was towed.
It questions the strict airport-style checks that saw tennis fans queue for 10 hours and have their bags searched extensively, with some also having their bodies searched at the gates.
Boulter, 26, was seen crouching on the floor with a towel over her as she cleaned up the mess with the ball boys and another member of the Wimbledon staff ran onto the pitch with a vacuum cleaner.
Play finally resumed as Boulter defeated her rival despite being upset in her first round. She now advances to the second round of the tournament.
After her win, the tennis star said she was worried when chaos broke out like ‘you never know what it is’.