’Loose Women’ has sparked a social media backlash with a controversial Facebook post on the topic of “gay best friends”.
Some viewers have accused the ITV daytime show of perpetrating homophobic stereotypes, after a post on the show’s official Facebook page asked, “should every woman have a gay best friend?”
The post read: “A new study has found that becoming friends with gay men may be a key part of women’s ‘mating strategies’ by making them less threatening to other women - and more appealing to straight men.
“Do you think every woman should have a male gay best friend? Why do you think a friendship between a woman and a gay man is so special?”
The topic generated over 700 comments on the post, with many of them calling out the show for posing such a problematic question.
Many pointed out they were reducing gay men to being a straight person’s “accessory”, adding this question would not have been acceptable in the context of another minority.
Anthony Proctor wrote: “Always love a good bit of casual homophobia from you lot. Believe it or not we are people and not just an “accessory” Absolute fools.”
Sally Ann Robinson said: “You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m no woman’s ‘gay best friend’. My sexuality has nothing to do with my freindship with anyone.”
Steph Dalby raged: “Is this some kind of joke? Is a black friend an accessory too? You just collecting other minorities to use for your advantage. This is so offensive.”
Michael Mckechnie added: “We are not toys for women to use as accessories to get men. And to be honest, if you think the only thing stopping you from getting a man is not having a gay friend, you’ve got other issues.”
Paul Turner went on: “We are not an accessory to be used to help Loose Women’s ‘mating strategies’. This is such a dangerous and close minded question to ask.”
Benjamin Pedley continued: “I don’t know what’s the worse point made here, between gay men being classed as a casual accessory or, once again, the role of a woman being belittled into nothing more their skill at bagging herself a man, instead of being powerful role models with career aspirations and success driven.”
Josh Corns added: “Cannot believe you have asked this insensitive question, you’re as bad as men who say women belong in the kitchen if you think that a woman should have a gay best friend to help her get a man!”
The topic also generated much conversation on Twitter:
It’s not the first time the show’s social media accounts have landed the Loose ladies in trouble.
Last year, their Twitter account ran a poll asking: “After Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde’s comments- we’re asking is it ever a woman’s fault if she is raped?”
Bosses later issued an apology, stating: “We always want to know what our viewers think about topical issues, however, we accept that the wording of the online poll was misjudged and we apologise for any offence caused.”
‘Loose Women’ airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
