Strictly Come Dancing participant Tilly Ramsay has hit out at LBC radio's early morning show host Steve Allen for referring to her as "a chubby little thing".
The 19-year-old CBBC presenter, daughter of foul-mouthed, gobshite celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, said Mr Allen's comments were a "step too far".
I despair of our precious, entitled, spoiled and ridiculously fragile young people:
Dear Tilly,
For the record, not that it really matters, you don't appear to be "chubby" and at 5ft 10ins tall you are hardly "little".
That's not the point. What is significant is that you get in a lather over Steve Allen calling you those things.
It was hardly libellous or the worst thing he could say about you. You very generously and in a rare moment of consciousness said people were free to express their opinions. Hurrah! Well done! Sadly, you added: "I draw the line at commenting on my appearance." Why? Is a pronouncement on the way you look not an "opinion"?
When I was alive, many years ago, there was a saying doing the rounds: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Might be worth getting it tattooed somewhere?
Listen, as you grow up - if you ever do - you will learn that people say lots of things you don't like about your appearance. I can attest to this. "You look a scruff", "You're putting on weight", "Hey, baldy!" and "Oh, it's like a penis only smaller". It's not against the law.
Thing is, they are hardly savage, wounding attacks and, because I am not clinically insecure, with a metaphorically thick skin and a sense of perspective, they pass by me unnoticed.
If someone calls you a paedophile or a murderer or husband-beater then get on to your solicitors and sue the arse off them! If they say you're chubby and little get over it - and yourself.
By way of establishing how many steps are too far, might I suggest you watch your dad bawling at restaurateurs on TV?
Hoping to welcome you into adulthood soon,
Reg.
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