ITV caught up in ageism row over 'rude and disrespectful' comments about Joan Collins
ITV has been embroiled in an ageism row which left viewers in uproar over comments made by actress Debbie Arnold about Joan Collins
ITV
ITV has been embroiled in an ageism row which left viewers in uproar over comments made by actress Debbie Arnold about Joan Collins.
The comments came amid a discussion with GB News commentator Dawn Neesom about whether it's possible to be a sex symbol aged 60 after Strictly’s oldest contestant, Angela Rippon, 78, shocked viewers with her high-kick in the air.
"To be a sex symbol, you have to be a certain age. It's about being confident in your own body, in your experience," the 68-year-old actress told Good Morning Britain.
"It's about being confident in your own skin and younger people don't have that. A real sex symbol has va va voom and character and personality."
Actress Debbie Arnold made comments about Joan Collins "falling apart"
PANeesom added: "We are talking about the love island generation, those young men and women are sexy but they are not sex symbols.
"Today we have people like Helen Mirren, [aged 78] who is incredibly sexy and Joan Collins, [age 90], who is amazing."
Arnold replied: "Come on, really. A sex symbol is someone you want to have sex with. If you had sex with Joan, she would fall to pieces.
"Do you really think men want to have sex with her now?"
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An awkward silence in the studio followed after her comments.
Collins has been married to Percy Gibson since February 2002.
Viewers were left unimpressed with the remarks, including Susanna Reid who pulled a face.
One viewer took to social media and wrote: "Omg. I actually dropped my jaw at that woman’s comment of Joan Collins, how rude, distasteful and disrespectful… unbelievable from an older woman who should have learned class in her years."
The comments came amid a discussion with GB News commentator Dawn Neesom about whether it's possible to be a sex symbol aged 60 after Strictly’s oldest contestant, Angela Rippon, 78, shocked viewers with her high-kick in the air
ITV
"Shake her and she would fall to pieces?? One of the nastiest most disrespectful things I have heard in a while. #gmb #ageism Joan Collins is beautiful AND classy a rarity," another added.
A third said: "#GMB. God what a hideous thing to say about Joan Collins."
"How daft is this woman. Doesn’t she think Joan Collins is a sex symbol to older men. It’s not all about the younger generation."