A guest who sparked huge backlash on Vanessa Feltz's Channel 5 talk show has issued an apology after almost 2,000 complaints were made to Ofcom.
Fashion designer Karen Millen made controversial comments about breastfeeding on the show, which led to the broadcasting regulator receiving 1,856 complaints from the June 10 episode and an additional 130 from the June 13 follow-up segment.
An Ofcom representative confirmed the grievances centred on a breastfeeding discussion that viewers found misleading.
Millen acknowledged the upset caused, stating: "I know I've upset a lot of your viewers and that was not my intention." However, she maintained her position was specifically about three-year-olds being breastfed.
Vanessa Feltz's guest Karen Millen sparked almost 2,000 complaints
Channel 5
The controversy has emerged as Channel 5 executives reportedly hold crisis discussions about the programme's future amid declining ratings.
During the June 10 episode, Millen was asked her thoughts on mothers who breastfeed three-year-old children.
She responded: "There's no benefit, is there, for a child to be breastfed beyond six months really. I think it's quite a selfish thing on the mother's part."
She expanded on her views, saying: "I just think that's not good emotionally for that child. I mean, what does that child do later in life?
Vanessa's ratings have reportedly plummeted since the show's launch earlier this year
Channel 5
"The attachment - like you say it becomes an addiction and an addiction for that child too because they only know the boob. It's just not normal, is it? I'm sorry, I find it very weird."
Her comments sparked immediate backlash on social media, with viewers criticising both the remarks and Channel 5's decision to air them.
In her apology, Millen explained: "The question was aimed at a three-year-old being breastfed and my thoughts on that and my answers reflected that, not the subject of breastfeeding."
She revealed she had breastfed her own three children "up to six or seven months" but struggled to understand the benefits for older toddlers.
"I think my issue was more on the fact as a baby breast milk is the best and beyond being a baby, growing into toddler, I just found it more difficult to comes to terms with how it would benefit a three-year-old," she said.
Despite the apology, Millen stood by her core position whilst adding: "And as a woman to women, I do respect your choices and I do want to support you."
The programme's future appears increasingly uncertain following the controversy.
A source told The Sun that executives have been in crisis discussions, stating: "The future of Vanessa's show is very much uncertain for the time being.
"Executives have been in crisis discussions and are devising strategies to overhaul the show immediately if it stands any chance of survival."
Channel 5 had hoped Jeremy Vine's viewers would continue watching Vanessa's celebrity interviews, but ratings have reportedly plummeted since the show's launch earlier this year.
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Karen Millen angered viewers with her remarks about breastfeeding
Channel 5
This marks Feltz's fourth attempt at daytime television success.
Her original ITV show ran from 1994 to 1998, followed by The Vanessa Show on BBC One which lasted just one series. Channel 5's 2011 revival was also cancelled after being moved to a late afternoon slot.
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