Yahoo Finance Danniella Westbrook accuses 'Gogglebox' of bullying over cruel nose comments
Danniella Westbrook has accused Gogglebox of “trolling” and “bullying” after the Channel 4 reality show aired cruel comments about her nose.
The former EastEnders actress – who has an eroded nasal septum due to a well-publicised battle with cocaine addiction – is taking a stand during Anti-Bullying Week after comments made about her by the Siddiqui family.
Westbrook, 47, tweeted: “Thank you everyone for the support you gave me about the derogatory comments @Channel4 allowed the Siddiqui family to make. My manager is seeking legal advice, as trolling is not something we should take lightly.”
Something we should take lightly. And I for one am in shock that @Tanialalexander allowed that to make the edit. The show has always been a favorite of myself & my family, was a real shame that we had to witness such cruel comments on world kindness day. #BeKind #c4googlebox
— Danniella Westbrook (@westbrookdanni) November 17, 2020
She went on to directly tweet the show’s creator Tania Alexander, saying: “And I for one am in shock that @Tanialalexander allowed that to make the edit. The show has always been a favourite of myself & my family, was a real shame that we had to witness such cruel comments on world kindness day.”
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She later said in a reply to Twitter users: “Imagine you're sitting with your family and that comes on. I face the fact I have made mistakes. But being clean and that being shown could cause a relapse or suicide to somebody who does not have the support I have.
"I am the first to tell a joke, but not on national tv. It's unfair when I've been a year clean and trying to mentally progress for me and my family.”
@channel4 @Tanialalexander Bullying and trolling doesn’t just affect the person targeted it affects the ones that love them 2. Sticks& stones may break our bones but names will always hurt us. As my son @KJ_Artist states here. #BeKind #AntiBullyingWeek #googlebox #trolling https://t.co/fRKWllsUGX
— Danniella Westbrook (@westbrookdanni) November 17, 2020
And she tweeted Channel 4 and Tania Alexander saying: “Bullying and trolling doesn’t just affect the person targeted it affects the ones that love them too. Sticks& stones may break our bones but names will always hurt us.”
Westbrook later added: “Being bullied is no joke ! No matter how big or small the comment made. Your mental health matters. I have a platform so I need to use it ! #AntiBullyingWeek.”
Being bullied is no joke !
No matter how big or small the comment made. Your mental health matters.
I have a platform so I need to use it ! #AntiBullyingWeek https://t.co/rxktyKZ4Yp— Danniella Westbrook (@westbrookdanni) November 17, 2020
During the episode, which aired on Friday, 13 November, World Kindness Day, Baasit Siddiqui asked his brother and father: "Would you rather have just one giant nostril or would you like to have just one giant eye?"
He went on to say “one giant eye” would look like mythical monster Cyclops and “one giant nostril” would be like Westbrook.
The actress – who rose to fame as Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap between 1990 and 2016 – has spoken openly in the past about her battles with drug addiction.
She has undergone cosmetic surgery to repair her eroded septum – the skin and cartilage in the nose that separates the two nostrils.
Westbrook, who has two adult children, appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019 and was sent to rehab again by the programme after revealing she had relapsed.
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She has consistently defended Kyle, a long-time friend, in the wake of the controversy that led to the show’s cancellation.
The actress took part in I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2003 and has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing On Ice.
Yahoo UK has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
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