After Eddie Hearn delivered some Home Truths in a breathtakingly vicious putdown, Roman Kemp may need to go into hiding.
On Friday, the Capital Breakfast DJ was joined by the prominent boxing promoter for the show’s roast portion, and while he tried to remind Eddie that he’s “only famous” because of his father, Barry Hearn, he was soon shut down and the violence began.
As other presenters and staff could be heard giggling in the background, Eddie cited Roman’s dad Martin Kemp and argued: ‘I agree, but how relevant – because you are clearly only renowned because of your dad.
‘The difference between me and you is, I have something you don’t. Talent and ability. I think your dad knew somebody as Capital FM. And I think the conversation went something like this.
‘”Do you remember when I did all those favours for you, used to come on your show and sing live? Well, my son is pretty useless to be honest with you. And I don’t know what I’m going to do with him. You once said to me, if I ever need anything, I’m here for you.
‘”I need a favour. He’s got no talent, he’s got no ability, he’s got no prospects. IF you can just give him a job somewhere, cleaning, running coffee, anything”. And the guy said to him, “I promised you a big favour. I’m gonna put him in front of the mic.” And here you are, Roman Kemp today.’
‘That was only the first one,’ Roman – whose dad is, of course, Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp – laughed, before using Eddie’s suits and facial hair to describe him as ‘what Mark Wright would look like if he didn’t reach fame’.
However, Eddie fired back: ‘Boom. Olay, let’s go back to facial hair. Because facial hair is about the growth, it’s about the shape. It’s not about patches, it’s not about bumfluff, it’s not about whispey bits. And when I look at you, I don’t see a man.
‘I see a guy that has all those things. In fact, in a heavy wind outside Leicester Square this afternoon, the entire facial hair on your cheeks and chin may disappear. But if you’re gonna start talking about sartorial elegance, I think you’re stuck between styles.
‘I don’t think you know what fashion is, I don’t think you know what your image is. In fact, sometimes you try and look cool, I see you at these film premieres, “Oh look guys, here we are at this premiere tonight, oh yeah I’m Roman Kemp!”
‘And then other times, quite frankly, you look like you’ve been rolled in superglue and slung through a charity shop window!’
Ouch!
Roman did try to fight back, insisting he preferred talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan to Eddie – ‘terrible banter’ was the response – and building up to asking what Anthony Joshua’s ‘a**e smells like’.
‘It smells really good! And a lot of that association, that close relationship, has brought me extreme wealth, I won’t lie. For you, I think money is something – I’m not saying it’s your key motivator,’ he continued.
‘But we’re gonna revert back to point one, which is when you have no talent or no ability and you’re in an actual job, I think you need to do one of two things. I think you need to save your money, because I think your career is extremely limited, and I think you need to look in another direction.
‘I don’t know what you do. One one hand you’re an MC, disc jockey, whatever you are. On the other hand, I see what you do at premieres. I just think that sometimes you have to look at yourself and say, “What is my future? Where am I going?” And I think the answer is down, very fast.’