Ulrika Jonsson defends Ferne McCann amid voice note scandal
‘We all say things we regret’: Ulrika Jonsson defends Ferne McCann amid voice note scandal and says her reality show shouldn’t be axed by ITV
Ulrika Jonsson has defended Ferne McCann amid her voice note drama – admitting that ‘we all say things we regret’ and calling for show First Time Mum not to be axed.
While the TV presenter, 55, slammed her use of ‘disgusting’ comments as ‘shocking and disappointing’, she added that most people do say things ‘privately not intended for public consumption in personal communications’.
Former TOWIE star Ferne, 32, apologised to her ex Arthur Collins’ acid attack victim Sophie Hall this week after calling her ‘ugly’ in leaked voice notes – but only ‘in the face of serious threats’.
Having her say: Ulrika Jonsson has defended Ferne McCann amid her voice note drama – admitting that ‘we all say things we regret’ and calling for show First Time Mum not to be axed
While she criticised the language used, Ulrika told The Sun: ‘But at least she’s accepting some responsibility for the situation. We all say things we regret. If you haven’t, then you’re either lying or you’re Mother Teresa.
‘We say things privately — not intended for public consumption — in personal communications.
‘I know for a fact that if the stark and sometimes vulgar honesty which is the foundation of my relationship with my best friend was ever revealed, you might not just drop your morning toast but be utterly outraged by our use of language.
‘I do feel empathy for Ferne for that very reason. She presumed she was talking confidentially.’
Defending: While the TV presenter, 55, slammed her use of ‘disgusting’ comments as ‘shocking and disappointing’, she added that most people do say things ‘privately not intended for public consumption in personal communications’ (Ferne pictured)
Ulrika went on to say that while her voice notes were ‘nothing short of a disgrace’ and that they don’t paint her in a very good light she shouldn’t be sacked from her ITV show First Time Mum.
She said that people only need to put one foot wrong and ‘decades of hard work and career go down the drain’ – which is unfair.
Earlier this week Ferne apologised to acid attack victim Sophie after calling her ‘ugly’ in leaked voice notes – but only ‘in the face of serious threats’.
In a statement shared to Instagram on Tuesday, the star admitted she was the voice in the shocking audio files, but also claimed she recorded them because she feared ‘serious harm and in the face of significant threats’.
Statement: Former TOWIE star Ferne , 32, apologised to her ex Arthur Collins’ acid attack victim Sophie Hall this week after calling her ‘ugly’ in leaked voice notes – but only ‘in the face of serious threats’
She wrote in full: ‘I am aware that people will have a number of questions about the voice messages being put into the public domain and purportedly sent by me.
‘I feel I have no choice but to address these (to the extent that I can as there are restrictions on me which I explain below).
‘Most importantly I want to apologise to all the victims of Arthur Collins abhorrent actions in 2017 that they have to relive that night and the pain that followed because this matter is again in the public domain.
‘In particular I want to apologise to Sophie Hall. I do not believe her to be ugly or stupid. She has been brave beyond belief.
Opinions: While she criticised the language used, Ulrika told The Sun: ‘But at least she’s accepting some responsibility for the situation. We all say things we regret. If you haven’t, then you’re either lying or you’re Mother Teresa’
‘Arthur Collins’ crimes created genuine victims so I am not trying to portray myself as one. I am unable to say much because there are important and significant legal proceedings that prevent me from setting the record straight at this stage.
‘What I can say is that the voice messages that are being released are manipulated; edited and taken entirely out of context.
‘Even so, I will have said things that are untrue and I did not believe – but I did so to protect my family and myself from serious harm and in the face of significant threats.’
Her post came following claims that Ferne made derogatory comments about ex-partner Arthur‘s acid attack victims in a series of leaked voice notes, claiming to be of her voice.
Slur: It’s been claimed the voice notes were referring to Sophie Hall, who reached the final of a Miss England contest 15 months after the sickening attack, baring her scars
And these audio clips aren’t the first to circulate the internet, with the reality star previously accused of slamming and body shaming friend Sam Faiers.
Following the first bout of audio messages that claimed to be the voice of Ferne branding pal Sam a ‘fat c*** with big thighs’, she and Lorri headed off on holiday to take a break from the turmoil.
But now the star has allegedly made comments about ex Arthur’s acid victims, it appears things are still on a downward spiral for the pair.
In a statement shared with MailOnline last week, Ferne called the scandal a ‘harassment’ campaign against her, as well as offering her sympathies to those offended by the remarks.
The mother-of-one was forced to speak out after an anonymous Instagram account leaked voice notes allegedly sent by Ferne, in which a woman’s voice labels one of Arthur’s victims a ‘silly b****’.
It’s been claimed they were referring to Sophie Hall, who reached the final of a Miss England final 15 months after the sickening attack, baring her scars.
The account responsible for sharing the audio previously stated more voice notes, allegedly from Ferne, would be sent over the next 24 hours.
Breaking her silence on the scandal, a statement released by Ferne’s representatives read: ‘These voice messages are part of a wider harassment campaign designed to intimidate and discredit Ferne.
Convicted: Ferne’s ex Arthur Collins is currently serving 20 years in prison after he threw acid in an East London nightclub in April 2017 and injured 14 people
‘They are subject to an on-going investigation being carried out by Essex Police and, as such, Ferne is unable to comment other than to say she offers her deepest sympathies for the distress and hurt this situation is causing Ms. Hall.’
A source close to the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star previously told MailOnline the messages have been ‘spliced together’ from separate recordings in a bid to ‘destroy her’.
Sophie, 27, who was badly scarred when Ferne’s then-boyfriend Arthur threw acid into a London club in 2017, has urged ITV to ‘take action’ and hold her accountable.
Sophie, whom Ferne allegedly referred to as ‘a silly b***h’ told The Sun she had spent five years rebuilding her confidence and ‘now in just minutes all my hard work has been shattered by these malicious voice notes.’
The acid attack victim slammed the First Time Mum star for being ‘cruel and vicious’ and has questioned why she should still be ‘given the platform to tear down others.’
‘ITV need to address what’s been said by Ferne. She needs to be held accountable and so do they,’ Ms Hall told The Sun. ‘ITV don’t just need to take action for my sake, but for other leaked voice notes. The ones which were body shaming and so unkind.’
Amid the scandal, filming for Ferne’s reality series has been paused.
Ferne McCann: First Time Mum started in 2017 and followed the star as she prepared to welcome her first child following her split from Arthur. The series has since charted her life as a single mother to daughter Sunday, five.
One to watch: Ferne McCann: First Time Mum started in 2017 and the series has charted her life as a single mother to daughter Sunday, five (pictured on the show)
A source told MailOnline: ‘ITV are not currently filming Ferne’s series but are in contact with her and continue to offer support.’
An insider told The Sun that ITV are now waiting to see ‘how it plays out’, adding: ‘ITV were due to start filming the next series of her show First Time Mum in the coming weeks but now it’s all up in the air.
‘Conversations are ongoing about when the show may resume filming in light of all that has gone on.
‘ITV have held talks with Ferne about the situation and they will continue to speak with her to see where they go from here.’
Collins is currently serving 20 years in prison after he threw acid in an East London nightclub in April 2017 and injured 14 people.
The former scaffolder – the father of Ferne’s daughter Sunday, five – was convicted of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and nine counts of actual bodily harm against 14 people, including model Sophie.
The voicemail message posted by the anonymous account, claiming to be sent by Ferne, discussed Sophie entering the 2018 beauty pageant.
A woman’s voice can be heard saying: ‘I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, the silly b***h has made a dress… A papier mache dress out of the newspaper cuttings from the event.’
Ex: Ferne was accused of making ‘disgusting’ comments about one of ex-boyfriend Arthur’s victims in newly-leaked voice notes (pictured in 2017)
In another post, the woman says: ‘She’ll probably win it I’m not gonna lie, only because the event and the awards that she has entered or beauty competition, whatever it is.’
‘They’re probably loving all this free press for their event so they’ll probably fix it, she’ll win it.’
The Instagram account had previously been suspended after Ferne reported it to the police when it released posts allegedly from the reality star in which she branded her former TOWIE pal Sam Faiers, 31, a ‘fat c***’ and ‘narcissistic b**ch’.
Sam and Ferne, who starred alongside one another on The Only Way Is Essex, have been friends for over 20 years.
Falling out: Ferne has been embroiled in an ongoing feud with Sam Faiers, 31, after audio was leaked which allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a ‘fat c***’ (pictured together in 2019)
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