Ofcom has cleared LBC presenter Steve Allen, 67, after he called Tilly Ramsay, 19, ‘chubby’ despite backlash.
There were 860 complaints sent to the regulator after he called the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant a 'chubby little thing' during her stint on the BBC competition show.
The comments led to an outpouring of support for Tilly and calls for Steve to face consequences.
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But after assessing Steve’s comments, Ofcom has decided he breached ‘generally accepted standards’.
A formal investigation will not take place because his listeners are familiar with his ‘provocative’ remarks and his comments about Gordon Ramsay’s daughter were brief.
However Ofcom confirmed they have provided guidance to LBC and said criticisms of a young woman’s appearance could have led to an ‘adverse effect’ on her mental health and wellbeing.
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The statement from an Ofcom spokesperson said: “Given societal concerns about body image pressures on young people, the presenter’s criticism of a young woman’s appearance could have led to an adverse effect on wellbeing and mental health.
“But given the brevity of the comments and the likely audience’s expectations of this provocative presenter and programme, we will not be pursuing further.”
During the live broadcast on 18th October, Steve said: “Well, she can't blimming well dance! I'm bored of her already. She's a chubby little thing isn't she. Have you noticed? Probably her dad's cooking I should imagine."
Tilly responded in the days after Steve’s comments in an Instagram post, explaining she "won't tolerate people that think it's okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone's weight and appearance".
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She wrote: "I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far," she wrote.
"Steve please feel free voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance. It's such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative.
"This isn't the first and definitely wont' be the last comment made about my appearance and I accept that and I'm learning to accept myself.
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"But please remember that words can hurt. And at the end of the day I am only 19 and I'm so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I have been able to take part in.
"And I understand that being in the public eye obviously comes with its own repercussions and I've been aware of this from a young age.
"However, I won't tolerate people that think it's okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone's weight and appearance. Love Tilly xx."
Featured Image Credit: Tilly Ramsay/InstagramTopics: News, Celebrity, Strictly Come Dancing, TV And Film