Alison Hammond praised for shutting down Cliff Richard’s ‘fat-shaming’ comments

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. After being asked by temporary co-host Sarah Ferguson whether he’d ever met Presley, the “Summer Holiday” singer raised eyebrows with his response, in which he said he once turned down a photo with the “Jailhouse Rock” star in the late 1970s as “he’d put on a lot of weight”. Richard explained to hosts Hammond, Dermot O’Leary and Sarah Ferguson: “I had once chance through a journalist while I was promoting ‘Devil Woman’ in the States. Because he’d put on a lot of weight, and I though, ‘If I’m taking a photograph with him, and it’s going to be hanging on my refrigerator, he’s gotta look good’.” Richard, whose songs include “Congratulations” and “The Millennium Prayer”, added: “I put it off, and then, of course, he died.” Hammond called Richard out for his remark, telling the singer: “You should never have put it off just because they’re a little bit heavier.” Richard, seemingly oblivious to the offensive nature of his comments, said: “If you’re a fan of somebody’s, meet them – even if they’ve put on weight.” An undeterred Hammond continued to casually shut down Richard’s remarks, firing back: “Is that why you don’t want me at your house?” Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. Alison Hammond shut down Cliff Richard’s ‘fat-shaming’ comments on ‘This Morning’ Writer Duncan Lindsay commended Hammond for “handling” it “so well”, with fellow writer Elliot Gonzalez adding: “Gosh, she handled it well, but shouldn’t have had to.