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23rd Nov 2021

I’m A Celebrity hit with complaints after Arlene Phillips’ joke

Kieran Galpin

Arlene Phillips

‘I am completely OCD about everything in my life being organised, clean, neat and tidy’

Choreographer Arlene Phillips has been criticised for the “insensitive” joke she made where she dubbed herself “completely OCD about everything”.

I’m A Celebrity kicked off on Sunday night – and though the show was almost immediately hit with complaints – the reception for the relocated classic has been fairly positive. However, a black spot on the launch came in the form of Phillips, who exclaimed, “I cannot live with dirt”, on her way to the castle.

“I am completely OCD about everything in my life being organised, clean, neat and tidy,” said the 78-year-old showbiz veteran.

Read more: I’m A Celeb contestant already caught smuggling contraband into castle

Social media was engulfed with people calling Phillips “insensitive”, while others branded the complainers as “snowflakes”.

On Twitter user wrote: “So, @arlenephillips is really ‘ocd’ about things? Is she? Is she though? Come on @ITV, you’re meant to be all about positive mental health! ‘Get Britain talking’ etc. poor show, @imacelebrity.”

Another wrote: “Arlene Phillips, educate yourself about OCD – it’s a devastating illness, not a quirk about being tidy!”

Others have defended Phillips and have instead turned their attention to ITV who should have “not included that segment knowing how it would be received”.

One person said: “Thought that @ITV would be more understanding and empathetic about mental health- they should have never allowed Arlene Phillips to make such an insensitive comment about OCD. As a sufferer, something like this comment has really upset me watching it! And it’s only 2 mins in!”

ITV has yet to comment on the situation but there will undoubtedly be more complaints made to Ofcom over the coming weeks.

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