Loose Women’s Jamelia Responds To Criticism After Arguing Plus-Sized Clothes Shouldn’t Be Available On The High-Street

Loose Women panelist Jamelia has hit back at criticism over comments she made on the show yesterday.

The 34-year-old former singer/songwriter was slammed on social media for claiming that plus-sized clothing stores ‘facilitate’ an unhealthy lifestyle.

But the mum-of-two appeared unfazed by the surge of negative opinion as she posted a quote on Twitter that read: "Never waste your time trying to explain, to people committed to misunderstanding you" [sic]

She also spoke on Good Morning Britain to apologise to anyone she offended - but admitted she stands by her views.

"I didn't make it clear on the show that I was talking about extremes, I was talking about above size 20 and below size six, those sizes being available en masse," she said on GMB.

"Knowing that I offended people really upset me. Knowing that I made people question themselves and their choices, it really did upset me. All I can do is apologise for that.

"[But] I do stand by what I said. I'm a real woman with real opinions. I get paid to voice my opinions."

She added that the barrage of abuse she received on Twitter was 'awful' but it's all part of the job.

"It's been absolutely awful but this is my job. I believe we are all entitled to our opinion," she said.

"I genuinely love people and believe everyone has the right to feel wonderful and feel beautiful and it was never my intention to make people feel any less than what they are."

Jamelia was responding to commentary that she was ‘rude’, ‘fattist’ and showed a ‘complete lack of intelligence’ for her views on the daytime talk-show.

The panelist appeared on our screens yesterday, April 21, appearing in a discussion about whether plus-sized high-street clothing stores were ‘normalising’ obesity – after a new study found that 60 per cent of teenagers were obese.

Speaking alongside panellists Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan and Janet-Street Porter, the ‘Thank You’ singer argued that plus-sized fashion stores were ‘facilitating’ an unhealthy lifestyle.

“I do not think it's right to facilitate people living an unhealthy lifestyle, in the same way I don't believe that a size zero should be available - it's not a healthy size for an average woman to be,” she said.

She believes high-street stores should not be selling clothes for underweight or overweight individuals.

“I don't believe they [high street stores] should be providing clothes for below that range or above that range,” she added.

“Yes, have specialist shops, but I do think that you should feel uncomfortable if you are unhealthy.”

But she received a barrage of abuse on social media, with fans of the show saying the presenter showed a ‘complete lack of intelligence’ for not understanding the health reasons behind weight issues.

The overwhelming majority of the tweets were slamming Jamelia's comments, but there were a few who stood by Jamelia's comments - arguing she referred to both sides of the weight spectrum.

What do you think? Does Jamelia have a point, or is she being unfairly judgmental? Let us know in the comments below.

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