Louise Thompson has issued a heartfelt apology after facing fierce criticism over comments she and her husband Ryan Libbey made about children starting school before being fully potty trained.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 36, said she was “deeply devastated” after a clip from the couple’s podcast He Said, She Said sparked anger among parents, particularly those raising children with Special Educational Needs or disabilities.
The controversy began after Louise and Ryan discussed a statistic suggesting that one in four children are starting school before they are toilet trained. Louise admitted she was “shocked” by the figure, while Ryan joked that it was “a raw deal” for teachers. The pair were accused of sounding dismissive and out of touch, with many parents pointing out that delayed potty training can be linked to developmental needs, disabilities, trauma, or other complex circumstances.
On Saturday, Louise took to Instagram to apologise directly, telling followers: “The first thing I want to say is that I am just so sorry that I have upset anybody and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
She continued: “It was never our intention to go out there and offend so many people let alone a community of parents and children that have so many challenges as it is and both Ryan and I are deeply devastated.”
Louise explained that the statistics discussed on the podcast had come from a Guardian article published in January, and said the piece they were referring to was not specifically about children with Special Educational Needs or disabilities. However, she admitted that did not excuse the hurt caused.
She said: “It doesn’t matter because what this has taught us is that we should have considered those other groups of children and this is an area that is so under-discovered.”
The reality star added that she had watched videos and read comments from parents who had shared their own difficult experiences. She said: “I have watched all the videos and read all of the comments. I have nothing but tremendous admiration for the mothers out there having heard their stories.”
Louise also encouraged parents who are struggling to continue contacting her so she can better understand their experiences. She suggested the topic could be revisited in a more informed way on the podcast in the future, saying it was important to keep raising awareness around these issues.
The mother-of-one, who shares four-year-old son Leo with Ryan, also reflected on her own health battles. Louise has been open about living with a stoma bag and other medical conditions, and said her own invisible disability had made her particularly sensitive to topics where people may feel misunderstood or marginalised.
She said: “I obviously have an invisible disability myself so I am particularly sensitive to these sorts of topics.”
Louise added that speaking up can be one of the hardest parts of living with conditions others do not understand. She said: “I think so much of the battle is finding the courage to speak up about them so that people that don’t understand them do, so we feel like a less marginalised group in society. So hopefully this is the beginning of a wider conversation.”
She concluded by promising that the backlash had been an important lesson. “I promise this has been such an important lesson and not one that I take lightly,” she said.
Louise also praised parents who advocate for their children, saying: “I have to say it takes so much gut and gumption to advocate for your children so you should be so proud of yourselves and I totally understand where all of this energy is coming from as I have been that person too.”
Before Louise’s video apology, she and Ryan had already removed the clip from Instagram and edited the discussion out of the podcast. However, their first written response was criticised for failing to include a direct apology.
In the original podcast clip, Louise had said: “I think a basic human right is to teach your child before the age of four how to use the loo and how to wipe their bum.”
The couple also discussed figures suggesting that 28 per cent of children entering reception were unable to eat and drink independently, while 25 per cent struggled with other basic life skills.
The comments quickly drew anger online, with parents accusing the couple of making generalised remarks without considering children with additional needs. Some said the issue was not funny, while others urged Louise and Ryan to educate themselves before speaking publicly on such a sensitive topic.
The statistics cited by the couple came from an annual survey of primary school staff in England by early years charity Kindred Squared. The survey found that teachers estimated 26 per cent of children in reception were having frequent toilet mishaps, rising to 36 per cent in the north-east.
However, critics stressed that the figures do not separate children whose delays may be linked to disabilities, Special Educational Needs, or other complex family circumstances — a point Louise has now admitted she should have considered.
