Eamonn Holmes, the friendly face of morning TV, may have earned himself a new reputation if this recent social media uproar is anything to go by. The presenter has been slated by viewers and called 'grumpy', after admitting he doesn't like sitting next to children on flights.
This Morning may have a huge cult following, but fans of the show aren't afraid to voice their opinions, as Eamonn is learning after upsetting many of the parents watching at home.
While discussing the recent story of a family holidaying in Ibiza, Eamonn admitted the resentment he feels for parents that can't control a stroppy child on a plane.
The phone-in discussion had revealed the story of mum Nicola Colenso, who became upset on a flight after another passenger started shouting at her and her family because her disabled daughter was causing some noise.
The passenger in question yelled, 'shut that child up', referring to her eight-year-old daughter. Nicola decided to shame the passenger in question by posting a detailed account of the incident on her Facebook, complete with a picture, which has since received over 110,000 shares and nearly 8,000 likes.
Nicola described how being shouted at 'didn't help her [daughter's] anxiety levels or ours in trying to manage the situation'. The distressed mum tried to make the passenger aware of her daughter's severe anxiety and disability, 'we explained her situation to you very politely and said we are sorry if she is causing a problem and maybe ask if she [the passenger] could be moved?
'This resulting in you repeating that you were "sick of the noise and can't you just shut her up".'
That evening Nicola and her family's day went from bad to worse as she detailed in her now viral Facebook post, 'I hope social media helps for this post to find you to let you know that the same little 8 year old girl ended up being taken to hospital by ambulance that evening as she became seriously unwell'.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154566611458949&set=a.10150250526938949.375005.593623948&type=3&theater
However, Eamonn appeared to identify with this passenger, saying on air, 'What makes life miserable is that I've paid for my holiday – I've got one week off all year. I just want to get on that plane and watching my movie, or sleep or whatever it happens to be'.
Viewers took to social media to disagree with Eamonn, with one Facebook user commenting, 'This is really annoying me! Why shouldn't parents go on holiday with children!? Regardless of their age? We've always flown with our children. We pay the same as those without children. Why should parents look at alternative holidays that don't include a trip on a plane?'
Another Facebook user agreed, 'This is ridiculous. Child-free flights, what next? Small children, bless them, don't understand what is going on, ears popping etc so if they do cry then surely we can be understanding to that?'
Do you think there should be such a thing as child-free flights? Or is this totally ridiculous? Let us know in the comments below!
