During Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, Richard Madeley made an obvious joke at Britney Spears, mocking her for pole dancing at the age of 41.
His words raised many eyebrows, including those of his co-host, Kate Garraway, 56, and Ranvir Singh, 46, who had little tolerance for him.
The duo, who hosted today’s show, were checking in with Ranvir ahead of today’s broadcast of Lorraine, in which she will fill in for regular anchor Lorraine Kelly.
Richard, 67, took it upon himself to try and establish Britney’s age when Ranvir brought up the US popstar amid news of her divorce from spouse of 14 months Sam Asghari.
Ranvir laughed as she was put on the position, joking that she wasn’t the ‘Britney correspondent,’ but it was subsequently revealed that the Toxic chart-topper was 41.
The host then smoothly commented that the singer ‘looked amazing for 41’ as she promised Richard that there was plenty more coming up on Britney as she quipped that he seemed ‘very invested in the story’.
However, Richard shifted the subject to her Instagram, where the celebrity likes posting videos of herself dancing and occasionally half naked as she continues to enjoy her freedom once her contentious 13-year conservatorship ends in 2021.
This included an intense pole dancing session earlier in August, where Britney demonstrated some of her greatest squats, grinding, and overall skills, and it looked to be on the presenter’s mind as he lambasted her for her selections.
‘I just wonder when she’s going to stop pole dancing, you know?’ he offered, holding his hands up.
As Kate raised her eyebrows and pulled a face at his remarks, Ranvir hit back, joking: ‘You’ve clearly got her Instagram!’
The staff of the morning programme, as well as Kate, broke out laughing as a result of this.
‘I report what I read in the papers, she’s not on there, promise’ Richard claimed in his own defence.
‘Backfired, didn’t it?’ was Ranvir’s immediate comeback, adding a sassy ‘bye!’ to Richard.
There was also reaction online in response to Richard’s casual yet pointed remark.
‘When is Britney going to stop pole dancing’ When you stop being a judgmental prig!’ complained one viewer.
‘Sometimes wonder if Richard Madeley doesn’t stop and think before he opens his mouth. Because what come out at times can be cringey,’ added another.
Britney posted to Instagram for the first time since announcing her breakup from Sam over the weekend, releasing a video of herself frolicking topless in bed.
After appearing to insinuate that a friend had tipped off the photographers ahead of their meeting for meals, she then uploaded images of herself wearing a glittery green dress as she had a raucous night out amid her new single status.
Alongside clips that showed a male pal licking her leg and her being hoisted horizontally into the arms of a row of friends, she wrote: ‘I put my green dress on and show up at my friends !!!’
‘I invited my fav boys over and PLAYED ALL NIGHT !!!’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1.