Ant McPartlin faces backlash due to lewd comments towards I’m a Celeb producers

Ant McPartlin hosts ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here with longtime friend, Declan Donnelly. After the ITV show ends, the two host a live stream on their Instagram accounts called Jungle Club.

According to reports, Ant is currently facing backlash for several comments made towards two of the I’m a Celeb producers. A spokesperson for Ant has spoken out recently concerning his comments and has defended the I’m a Celeb host.

Ant McPartlin’s lewd comments towards producers

As mentioned above, Ant McPartlin, who has been diagnosaed with ADHD, has been accused of making lewd comments towards two of I’m a Celeb producers. According to Daily Mail, he has commented on the women’s sex life and has made ‘suggestive’ comments.

The iconic duo’s Instagram Live is not affiliated with ITV and is unscripted. As per Daily Mail, two weeks ago, Ant continuously commented on one of the producer’s - Kat - looks, regularly calling her ‘fit’.

Concerning the other producer, Lola, he reportedly suggested that she could ‘give it and take it’ and when addressing the double meaning, he raised his eyebrows and said ‘oops, cheeky’. On other occasions, Ant has inquired about the women’s sex lives.

In one of the live streams, the women were wearing thumb rings, and McPartlin questioned whether they had something to do with virginity and then referred to them as ‘virginity rings’. As per Daily Mail, he said:

Is that a thing that you wear a ring on your thumb when you're single? And then when you get with a boy, you pop it off? Anyone who wants to date Lola, send some pictures of yourself.

On another show, after the ‘virginity ring’ comment, Ant noted that Lola was not wearing the ring and asked if she was ‘having a nice time?’.

Lola...The thumb rings are gone – the virginity ring is gone. What's going on there then? Are you having a nice time, yeah?

Dec quickly stepped in:

Let's leave that. We're getting into murky waters.

On a separate occasion, Dec even warned that HR are going to turn up, following one of Ant’s comments. This one occurred when the Geordie duo were eating sausages, as per Daily Mail:

Ant:

Lola, would you like…No? Inappropriate

Dec:

HR is going to be here in a minute.

Ant:

Again!

Criticism from Women’s rights campaigners

Following this string of comments from Ant McPartlin, women's campaigners and MP Rosie Duffield criticised the I’m a Celeb host.

Rosie Duffield is a member of the women and equalities committee and said that Ant’s comments are ‘sexual harassment’ and often involve ‘rich, powerful celebrities’ towards those with less power.

As per Daily Mail:

Sexual harassment is sexual harassment. The power dynamic involves rich, powerful celebrities punching down on the younger people who cannot fight back.

She goes on to add that it may have been considered ‘banter’ years ago, but that doesn’t mean it has to ‘intimidate’ someone or be ‘sexualised’.

Moreover, Patsy Stevenson, a women's rights campaigner also commented on the situation. As per The Independent, she claimed Ant’s comments ‘reflect a culture of casual sexism that undermines women in the workplace’.

The comments about ‘licking toppings’ and asking for photos of potential suitors are particularly degrading and verge on harassment. For someone in Ant’s position, there is a responsibility to lead by example.

Meanwhile, Ant’s spokesperson responded to the backlash:

The production team on Jungle Club have worked together for many years.

Much of the comedy programme's content deliberately leans into Ant and Dec's comedic friendship and working relationship with the crew.

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Sources used:

Daily Mail: ‘Ant McPartlin, 49, condemned over 'inappropriate' virginity jibes to female I'm A Celeb producers’

The Independent: ‘Ant McPartlin under fire for ‘degrading’ comments on I’m a Celebrity ‘aftershow’