Loose Women controversies – rape polls, sex worker bombshell, Harvey Price swear

Bitter feuds, fat-shaming rows and even voting whether rape is ever the victim’s fault, Loose Women has been embroiled in its fair share of controversy over the years.

The lunchtime ITV show might not seem as likely a suspect as, say, Piers Morgan Uncensored when it comes to jaw-dropping moments, but in fact there have been plenty.

There have been rumours of the Loose Women panel having a tense atmosphere behind the scenes after the ITV stars have been seen having heated discussions on air.

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However, Coleen Nolan has previously spoken out on the reports, insisting that rows “end at the desk” and it would be a “very boring show” if all the panelists agreed on everything all the time.

Despite that, Loose Women has attracted its fair share of Ofcom complaints over the years. We take a look back at its most controversial on-air moments.

Harvey Price drops C-word

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom was forced to step in when Katie Price’s son Harvey dropped the C-word live on-air.

Harvey, who has multiple disabilities including Septo-Optim Dysplasia, was just 13 at the time.

Mum Katie had asked him: “If someone says something horrible to you, what do you say?”

Harvey then replied: “Hello, you c***.”

Andrea McLean quickly stepped in to apologise for the offensive language, but many people on social media came out in support of Harvey, with one tweeting: “I know he just swore on TV, by mistake, but probably the best response he could say to trolls!! Well done Harvey!”

Another said: “Harvey's response to nasty people, perfect. Harvey is a beautiful boy, credit to [Katie].”

Rape polls

In 2015, ITV was forced to offer an apology after the Loose Women Twitter account posted a poll asking if rape could ever be the victim’s fault.

The tweet read: “POLL: After Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde’s comments – we’re asking is it ever a woman’s fault if she is raped?”

Hynde had, at the time, told the Sunday Times that when she was 21, a motorcycle gang member said he was taking her to a party and instead assaulted her in an empty house.

She said she took “full responsibility” for what happened, and accused women who dress “provocatively” while walking down the street are also to blame, saying: “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m dunk? Who else’s fault can it be?”

The comments came under fire, with ITV apologising for the poll – to which 87.85% of respondents said no.

‘Non-violent’ rape

It isn’t the only time the programme has tackled such a controversial subject head on, as Judy Finnigan caused fury on her first ever appearance on the panel.

She was defending convicted rapist Ched Evans amid his potential return to football, as she said he’d “served his time”.

Judy said: “If he does go back, he will have to brave an awful lot of comments.

"But, having said that, he has served his time, he's served two years.

"The rape – and I am not, please, by any means minimising any kind of rape – but the rape was not violent, he didn't cause any bodily harm to the person.

"It was unpleasant, in a hotel room I believe, and she [the victim] had far too much to drink.

"That is reprehensible but he has been convicted and he has served his time."

Judy later apologised for her comments, as he told viewers: “I apologise unreservedly for any offence that I may have caused as a result of the wording I used.”

Fat-shaming row

Pop star Jamelia provoked ire on social media when she suggested plus size people “deserve to be uncomfortable” and larger mannequins should not be used on the high street.

She said on the panel show: “I do not think it's right to facilitate people living an unhealthy lifestyle.

"In the same way I don't believe that a size zero should be available, it's not a healthy size for an average woman to be.

"I don't believe [high street stores] should be providing clothes for below that range or above that range.

"Yes, have specialist shops but you should feel uncomfortable if you are unhealthy… to be available in every high street store, I don't think that's right."

She later apologised, but said she stands by the comments.

Sex worker payout

Coleen had jaws dropping all over the country when she suggested that if her 16-year-old son Shane Jr passed his GCSEs, he could pay a sex worker in Amsterdam to sleep with him.

She said at the time that she’d prefer it to Shane heading to Ibiza, where he would “probably have unprotected sex with lots of girls.”

She said: “I'd rather he does it somewhere well-policed and where the girls have health checks than behind the wall of a club in Ibiza.”

It isn’t the first time Coleen has come under fire for remarks about sex workers, as in 2005 she said she wouldn’t mind if her ex-husband Ray Fensome paid for sex.

Speaking on the show, Coleen said: “In all honesty, I couldn't care less [if Ray does have sex with someone].

"What bothers me more is the thought of Ray going into a bar, chatting up a really stunning girl, having sex with her, spending the night and waking up with her the next morning. I couldn't cope with that.

“I said, `Ray will have to go with you', and he said, `Well then, Ray might sleep with a prostitute too'.

“I said, ‘Oh, that's all right, it's only a prostitute'. I wouldn't throw away the father of my children and all that for the sake of lads being lads.”

Coleen went on: “As long as he comes back and tells me about it. I’m not joking, I’d love it. There’s something a little bit kinky about me.”

‘Poor’ comments

Linda Robson was also forced to make a hasty apology after suggesting an area of Stoke-On-Trent was “poor”.

During a debate about a woman hit with a criminal record for picking up a £20 note she’d found on the floor in a corner shop, Linda said: “It looks like quite a poor shop – it's not Waitrose or Marks and Spencer.

“It looks like they don’t have a lot of money, the people who shop in there."

One viewer who complained to Ofcom about the incident said: “The people of Blurton are friendly and community-minded – there is nothing wrong with us.

"It would be nice to see people change their opinions of Stoke-on-Trent and other parts of the city. It was awful the way it was portrayed during the by-election."

If you have been affected by this story, contact Rape Crisis England & Wales for free confidential support and information on 08088029999 or their website or 08088010302 if you're calling from Scotland.

You can contact the Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline on 0808 802 1414 if you are in Ireland.

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV.

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