This Morning viewers branded Eamonn Holmes “the most insensitive buffoon” yesterday for the way he handled an interview with a 12-year-old busker.
The presenter was speaking to Allie Sherlock, who has been hailed as the next Adele because of her song-writing talent and amazing voice.
Viewers were unhappy about how Eamonn Holmes questioned a young busker yesterday over her late mother (Credit: ITV)
The schoolgirl from Cork appeared along with her dad, Mark, who also works as her manager, and performed a song before speaking to Eamonn and his wife Ruth.
But viewers were unhappy when Eamonn turned the conversation to Allie’s late mother, which made the young girl visibly uncomfortable.
He asked her: “This is an amazing story. You literally found your voice after you lost your mum, didn’t you? How helpful has this been to articulate your feelings and your love for your mum?”
The poor schoolgirl struggled to answer the question, replying with an embarrassed giggle: “Erm… like… it wasn’t like… I don’t know…”
Her father then stepped in to answer the question for her, saying certain songs she’s written “do remind her of things from the past.”
He added: “I believe that emotion comes out in her songs as well, definitely.”
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Viewers took to Twitter to say it was insensitive of Eamonn to put Allie on the spot about her late mother.
One tweeted: “Could Eamonn not be as harsh when asking about the girls mother who passed? What is wrong with him”.
Another said: “Fancy asking a child that about her mom knowing its going to upset her”.
A third said he was “the most insensitive buffoon I’ve ever seen”.
Allie said she loves to sing and she’s been amazed by the response since footage of her busking on YouTube went viral.
She was invited to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and has been inundated with offers from record labels.
Allie said it’s all been wonderful as she “really loves music so I want it to keep going.”
Her dad said he is acting as her manager for now but expects someone else will help soon as he “doesn’t know anything about the music industry” but will stay very much involved in her career to protect his daughter.
He said Ryan Tether from One Republic has been in touch so they are planning to work with him.
So expect to hear much more of Allie Sherlock soon!