The Daily Mirror issues grovelling apology after describing Phillip Schofield’s coming out as ‘bizarre’
The Daily Mirror described Phillip Schofield coming out as “bizarre”. (ITV)
The Daily Mirror has apologised “unreservedly” for describing Phillip Schofield coming out as gay as “bizarre”.
Schofield made his announcement on Instagram shortly before appearing on ITV’s This Morning.
While he has described the outpouring of love from friends, family, colleagues and fans in response to his coming out, he got something else from The Daily Mirror.
The newspaper headlined its story: “Phillip Schofield ‘comes out as gay’ in bizarre Instagram statement.”
Shortly afterwards, as criticism began to roll in, it altered the headline and deleted the tweet.
But Schofield’s supporters were quick to screenshot the original headline and call out the newspaper on social media for its “horrible, idiotic choice of words and scare quotes”.
One Twitter user posted a screenshot of The Mirror’s first tweet, and wrote: “BREAKING Daily Mirror ‘reveals homophobia’ in bizarre Twitter statement.”
BREAKING Daily Mirror ‘reveals homophobia’ in bizarre Twitter statement pic.twitter.com/nhuZX4RgY1
— benbow (@harrybenbow) February 7, 2020
Why bizarre, horrible idiotic choice of words
— Sean Gibbons (@SeanGibbons_1) February 7, 2020
One person wrote: “Coming out as gay should not be in quotes and it’s not bizarre. Don’t be homophobic, Mirror. Let the man be and I applaud him for being his true self.”
“Bizarre in what way? Mans speaking his truth let him be,” said another.
Come out as gay should not be in quotes and it’s not bizarre. Don’t be homophobic, mirror. Let the man be and I applaud him for being his true self
— Ryan (ew) David (@rdstoner24) February 7, 2020
Bizarre in what way? Mans speaking his truth let him be.
— Copacetic? (@haighypoo) February 7, 2020
A spokesperson for The Mirror has now told PinkNews: “We apologise unreservedly. It was the wrong word and we’re taking this very seriously in the newsroom to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Phillip Schofield came out in a beautiful and moving Instagram statement.
Phillip Schofield wrote in a statement on Instagram Friday morning, February 7: “You never know what’s going on in someone’s seemingly perfect life, what issues they are struggling with, or the state of their wellbeing – and so you won’t know what has been consuming me for the last few years.
“With the strength and support of my wife and daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.”
ITV This Morning presenter @Schofe has come out as gay 🏳️🌈
Read more: https://t.co/FfpbV7QdCh pic.twitter.com/MQa53Er7mu
— PinkNews (@PinkNews) February 7, 2020
He later appeared on This Morning with co-host Holly Willoughby, who promised: “Whatever happens in the future I’ll be sat by your side… Forever and ever.”
