‘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.
Someone really needs to teach Arlene Phillips what OCD is. It’s a serious condition which shouldn’t be branded about as a joke. #ImACeleb
— John B (@obi_john_kanobi) November 21, 2021
“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.”
No Arlene. You are not OCD about being clean. OCD is a mental health disorder. You can be clean, particular or tidy, but you can’t BE OCD. #OCD @imacelebrity #arlene @arlenephillips #ImACeleb
— Rachel Woollett (@RachelWoollett) November 21, 2021
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”.
Arlene Phillips just casually using OCD as an adjective on #ImACeleb . Great start to the season…
— Sophie (@ocdandme) November 21, 2021
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!”
https://twitter.com/hope_undertone/status/1462534626661093381
ITV has yet to comment on the situation but there will undoubtedly be more complaints made to Ofcom over the coming weeks.
Related links:Â
- Ant and Dec kick off I’m A Celeb by mocking Ole Gunnar Solskjae
- PETA is calling for a boycott of I’m A Celeb for it’s ‘cruel’ use of animals
- GMB fans shocked over Richard Madeley’s ‘inappropriate’ Kate Middleton comment
