Holly Willoughby’s statement is met with tepid response

Holly Willoughby’s statement on the Phillip Schofield affair scandal was met with a lukewarm response this morning.

The host, 42, told This Morning viewers ‘we gave our love and support to someone who wasn’t telling the truth’ as ​​she returned to the show for the first time since Phillip’s departure following the news that he was having an affair with a younger male colleague.

But viewers balked at the “melodramatic, scripted, and soulless words,” which she read while seemingly on the verge of tears next to co-host Josie Gibson — while others praised Holly for her bravery.

Phillip, who described his relationship with the younger colleague as “ill-advised but not illegal,” said Holly was unaware of the affair. In an interview last week, he said Holly ignored his messages apologizing and begging for forgiveness.

Unconvinced viewers wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely shocking statement. The only result is to put Phil down even more, poor Holly, poor me. Also show how much she despises him and doesn’t care.’

Another added: “Terrible news. I’m ready. Switched over and won’t look,” while a third said, “Amazing how she’s emotional one minute and giggling the next… like the cat that got the cream.”

Another viewer tweeted, “My only comment on this. Scripted and soulless,” and someone added, “She did a good job of keeping it together, though the language was a little melodramatic.”

One viewer even compared Holly’s statement to the moment in 2020 when then Health Secretary Matt Hancock appeared to be crying on Good Morning Britain when 81-year-old William Shakespeare received one of the first Covid vaccines.

However, other social media users praised the star, writing, “Very appropriate. Holly is NOT responsible for Phil. No colleague is responsible for what another colleague does or does not do, no matter how close the working relationship is.’

Another added: “Now put it to rest, let the people who have to deal with it do that.” Of course the script is that she will know what to say. Phil is the one who is wrong here. I love Josie, she’s a breath of fresh air! Good luck girls.’

A third wrote: “I feel sorry for Holly and anyone Phil lied about.”

In her full statement, Holly said, “Hello there. Good morning. Josie [Gibson], Thanks for your presence. Right, take a deep breath. First, are you okay? It feels very strange to be here without Phil.

And I imagine you may have felt as I did—shocked, distressed, disappointed, concerned for the well-being of people on all sides of what’s going on, and full of questions.

“You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who wasn’t telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they should resign from ITV and quit a career they love. That’s a lot to process.

And it’s just as hard to see the toll it takes on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and well-being of all.

“I hope that as we begin this new chapter and return to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

And, from my heart, I can just thank you for all your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. Myself, Josie [Gibson]Dermat [O’Leary]Alison [Hammond]Craig [Doyle]and every person who works on this show will continue to work hard every day to bring you this show that we love.”

Before the show aired, friends of Phillip’s said he wouldn’t tune in to see Holly’s return to the bank as it would be too “triggering” for him.

In his interview with The Sun, he apologized to Holly for lying to her about his relationship, saying, “I’ve lost my best friend.”

He added, “I let her down. I missed that whole show. I disappointed the viewers. Holly didn’t know and she was one of the first texts I sent, to say “I’m so, so sorry I lied to you”.

“She didn’t answer and I understand why she didn’t answer either. So yeah, if anyone links Holly to this in any way, it’s absolutely, not true at all.’

The duo have co-hosted the show since 2009 and also co-hosted Dancing On Ice.

Holly’s return comes as the ITV show has been plagued with ‘toxicity’ allegations, including from former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes who claimed there was a ‘total cover-up’ over the Schofield affair.

The show’s former family doctor, Dr. Ranj Singh, also fell for a “toxic” culture and said he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” when he worked there two years ago and then felt he had been “managed” for whistleblowing.

In a letter from ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall to parliament on Wednesday, she said an external review carried out following a complaint from Dr. Ranj found “no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”

Meanwhile, former This Morning news head Emily Maddick, who worked on the show from September to December 2019, said she left the program due to “bullying, sexism and a toxic culture of fear and harassment.”

On Saturday, Martin Frizell, editor of This Morning, told a Sky News reporter that he had to “read between the lines” amid claims of toxicity, adding: “I think some scores are being settled.”

Dame Carolyn was summoned before a parliamentary committee on 14 June to answer questions about the broadcaster’s approach to protection and complaints handling following Schofield’s departure.

Last week she confirmed that the broadcaster had instructed Blackstone Chambers’ lawyer Jane Mulcahy KC to carry out an external inquiry into the facts.