Ben Shephard was left issuing an on-air apology after viewers were left “fuming” over a comment made by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi during This Morning on June 4. The former MP appeared alongside Gyles Brandreth to discuss stories of the day—but her choice of words triggered immediate criticism from the public.
While discussing a segment about barbers offering therapy sessions during haircuts, Warsi referred to “black men, coloured men, or Asian men” as groups who often suppress emotions due to cultural expectations around masculinity. Though she supported the idea of men using barbershops as safe spaces to open up, it was her use of the outdated term “coloured men” that caused uproar online.
One viewer wrote, “Coloured men?! It’s 2025 – this type of language should not be used on national TV.” Another said bluntly, “If Ben had said that, he’d be sacked on the spot.”
As social media flooded with complaints, Ben Shephard later addressed the backlash live on air. He said: “We just want to take a minute to apologise to viewers who were offended by a phrase that we used by one of the team that we had on the show today. If anyone was, we’d like to say sorry.”
The incident has sparked renewed discussion around language sensitivity on live television and the responsibility of guests and presenters alike to keep up with evolving standards.
