suicide scandal
Strictly 2019’s Saffron Barker slammed for complaining train suicide victim ‘made her late’
STRICTLY 2019 star Saffron Barker caused controversy last year when she complained that a train suicide victim had “made her late”.
The 19-year-old YouTuber, who is the latest star to join the line-up, fell from favour amongst fans when she rolled her eyes about the tragic death in a now deleted video.
4
In the clip, which led to calls to boycott her range, she moaned: “It should have taken me 50 minutes and instead it took four and a half hours, so that was amazing.
“Obviously, it’s really sad, someone did get hit by a train. But it meant that I couldn’t get home.
“And it wasn't just I couldn't get home, it was just the most stressful thing. They were doing no buses to help anyone. I was in an hour taxi line stood in the cold."
Her comments sparked outrage and she lost subscribers from her channel who couldn’t believe how insensitive she had been.
4
There were also calls for Primark to stop collaborating with her.
She later sincerely apologised, saying: “I completely understand how insensitive my comments were.
“I can see how it would appear that I wasn’t being considerate of the awful incident but in no way did I mean it like that.'
“My frustrations were not towards the victim but the overall situation. Anyone that knows me knows there was no disrespect.”
She added: 'It was wrong of me and I should have been more considerate to what was going on.
In a follow-up vlog, she said that she would “never in a million years roll her eyes at the victim”.
4
4
Most Read In TV & Showbiz
She added: “I think anyone who knows me know I wouldn’t roll my eyes at the victim. When I edit my vlogs I just drag and drop them in, I don’t watch them.”
Her rep told The Sun Online: "Saffron apologised straight after this incident, it’s a comment she regrets and is now in the past."
Saffron has more than four million followers across her combined social channels and averages 15million views a month on her YouTube channels.
She joins previously announced contestants David James, Chris Ramsey and Emma Barton.
She said: "I am really excited to go on the Strictly journey and am feeling very grateful for the opportunity!
"I'm looking forward to learning all of the dances, finding out who my partner is, getting to wear the costumes and to just experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Teenage girl, 19, spends £130 on McDonald's in bid to win £100k Monopoly cash
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics