A heated debate over the word “darling” erupted on the set of This Morning, culminating in Kim Woodburn telling comedian, Kate Smurthwaite, to “shut up.”
Read more: Kim Woodburn tells off shocked Rylan in very heated radio interview
After a woman vowed to boycott Tesco after she took offence at being called “darling” by checkout staff, This Morning set up a debate over use of the term. While some may consider the term innocuous, others find it disrespectful – and disproportionately directed at women.
Kim took umbrage at this stance, claiming that claims that it is an example of sexism were “tripe.”
Arguing against use of the word, Kate claimed that surveys have shown plenty of women object to the term, and servers should give it up.
“When you go somewhere and they call the men sir and the women darling, then I think ‘hold on a minute,'” the comedian said. “If you’re going to call him ‘sir’ can I have a similar level of respect.”
Kim was having none of it. “I must tell you just now,” she said, “I go shopping a great deal, I have never heard someone say ‘hello sir, hello darling,’ you’re talking tripe.”
Hosts Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby tried to interject, but Kim was not to be stopped.
“Stop this sexist lark,” she continued. “You’re just looking for something to say, dear.”
Kate defended herself, saying that regardless of whether the issue was sexist, once someone had stated a dislike of the term, continuing to use it is rude.
Read more: This Morning viewers divided over eight-year-old drag queen on This Morning
Phillip came back after the break claiming the argument continued into the corridors, getting “very heated” backstage. “[Kim] can’t stop,” he said. “She winds herself up.”
Kim insisted that pushing an issue like this is pointless. “Don’t pick on people who don’t mean any harm to you at all,” she said.
“You’re not being spoken to like a child. What is the harm, what is wrong with you woman? You’ve had your five, shut up. We’re living in a troubled world.”