TV presenter who faced backlash over ‘disgusting’ Kate Middleton question defended by co-star Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Vine has defended TV presenter Narinder Kaur after she came under fire for a ‘disgusting’ comment about Kate Middleton.
Kaur, 51, came under fire after making a remark on social media about the royal, specifically targeting her appearance as she was seen at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday and the Cenotaph's Remembrance Sunday service the day after.
While many people were glad to see Middleton back in the public eye after taking a step away for cancer treatment, Kaur asked why she had seemingly ‘aged’.
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Quote tweeting an article on X, she wrote: "Genuine question - why has Kate aged so much? Isn't she only 42?"
She added: "Is she a smoker? It's the only explanation."
Kaur later admitted the comment was 'stupid' and 'insensitive', also claiming that she had been subjected to 'sexual, racial, [and] violent abuse' because of it.
"I put out a stupid tweet - that wasn't my intention,” she said in a video statement on the platform. My intention was not to be malicious or nasty or anything."
She continued: "It was stupid to ask about the ageing I've admitted that, and I put my hands up, and I've apologised if it caused offence."
Kaur also appeared on The Jeremy Vine Show, where she regularly serves as a panellist, to discuss the matter further.
Kaur claimed she hadn’t intended to be disrespectful about Middleton off the back of her chemotherapy, but had wanted to highlight the dangers of smoking.
“My intention – and it’s in the tweet – was to say, ‘Is she a smoker?’” she said.
“Anybody who knows me knows I’m so anti-smoking for many reasons. My dad passed away from smoke-related diseases. I do think it ages you. It had nothing to do with her cancer.”
Kaur added: "This is where I feel I let myself down, because I pride myself in bigging women up.”
However, co-presenter Lin Mei told Kaur that her apology had a ‘lack of apology’.
Host Vine has also since weighed in, posting the clip from the show on X and saying that the backlash needed to ‘stop’.
“Narinder has apologised,” he wrote. “That really should be the end of the matter. Stop with the vicious words now.”
Some people agreed with Vine, saying ’enough is enough’, but others felt the apology didn’t erase the ‘disgusting’ comment she made.
"It's not really an apology when you say I'm sorry BUT..." one argued.
Responding to his tweet, Kaur appeared grateful for the public support, telling him: “Thank you Jeremy.”
Topics: Kate Middleton, Royal Family, Celebrity
Jess Hardiman