Gemma Collins details her ongoing weight struggles as she appears on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.
In the ITV episode – set to air on Thursday – the former TOWIE star, 40, admits she ‘turns to food in times of crisis’ as she compares emotional eating to ‘self-harm’.
The self-proclaimed diva – who lost three stone last year after using her time in lockdown to focus on her health – also recalls when she was left ’embarrassed’ as a troll shouted ‘you fat c***’ at her during a lunch date with her mother Joan.
‘It’s a form of self-harm’: Gemma Collins details her ongoing weight struggles as she appears on Piers Morgan ‘s Life Stories
Addressing the topic, presenter Piers, 55, says: ‘You’ve talked very openly about an ongoing struggle with your weight. Obviously it’s a part of your life.’
The media personality candidly responds: ‘Yeah. I think I have always turned to food in-in times of crisis. I mean any occasion, if I’m happy I eat, if I’m sad I eat.
‘But I think it’s about dealing with your emotions and trying to find a way of dealing with them in a healthy way and not turning to something that can harm you. Cos it is like a form of self-harm.’
Gemma previously revealed she’s found managing her weight challenging ever since she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome battle (PCOS).
‘If I’m happy, I eat, if I’m sad, I eat’: In the ITV episode – set to air on Thursday – the former TOWIE star, 40, admits she ‘turns to food in times of crisis’ during the candid interview
‘She was very sad’: The reality star also recalls when she was left ’embarrassed’ as a troll shouted ‘you fat C***’ during a lunch date with her mother Joan (pictured together)
The reality star goes on to reflect on the disadvantages of fame, as well as receiving both online and verbal abuse.
Gemma shares: ‘It was so embarrassing once, I was taking my mum for lunch, a van pulled up and they started abusing me. It wasn’t for me, I felt so hurt that that happened in front of my mum.’
When quizzed on what the vicious abusers said, the TV star confesses: ‘You fat C***. You know, fat cow…Look at you stuffing your face. Again, I’m used to it but I didn’t want my mum to hear it. [She] was very upset.’
Elsewhere on the show, the blonde reminisces about her ‘lovely’ childhood and how her mother promoted self-confidence, which caused her to be bullied at school.
The Romford native adds: ‘I don’t believe in revenge and two wrongs don’t make a right. I hope that they’ve worked on something within themselves.
Before and after: The self-proclaimed diva lost three stone last year after using her time in lockdown to focus on her health (before, left, and after, right)
Candid: The Romford native previously revealed she’s found managing her weight challenging ever since she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome battle (pictured in her 20s)
‘There was no money but we had a really lovely childhood. I can remember having my first probably big birthday party at the Little Chef and thinking that was a really posh restaurant.
‘And I think my hard work and tenacity comes from my dad. He used to work all the hours under the sun and even do a night shift in a pub.’
In another look the show, Gemma breaks down in tears as she describes trolling as ‘the downside of fame’ but insists she’s now ‘a lot more comfortable now in my own skin.’
The businesswoman was supported by the broadcaster, who called for the end of ‘vile’ online abuse during Monday’s Good Morning Britain.
Emotional: In another look the show, the businesswoman breaks down as she describes trolling as ‘the downside of fame’ but insists she’s now ‘a lot more comfortable now in my skin’
In the short clip, her former TOWIE co-star Joey Essex reads out a horrific tweet about Gemma, which states: ‘You’re so fat, die’.
Reality personality Joey, 30, explains: ‘That really brought her confidence down. Getting death threats isn’t a joke. It’s not just abuse, it’s terrifying.’
The influencer is overwhelmed with emotion as she tells Piers: ‘That was hard to watch. You don’t forget it but that’s the downside of fame.’
As the clip debuted on GMB, the journalist defended his decision about interviewing the former Dancing On Ice star.
The host said: ‘I talk about the trolling she’s got and whether you love her or hate her – she’s got two million fans on social media who love her and she’s got other people who can’t stand her.
‘She’s a reality TV star who plays up to her character much like Katie Price. Whether you do or not, no one should have to put up with people on Twitter, spewing the kind of vile abuse and death threats that they have been spewing at Gemma Collins.
‘The moment I announced it on Twitter, out it poured, people saying ”I hope you die”, literally. It’s more than that, this is a malevolent thing in our culture, our society now, there’s no regulation.’
‘It has no place in public discourse’: The TV star was supported by the broadcaster, who called for the end of ‘vile’ online abuse during Monday’s Good Morning Britain
The outspoken star also hit out at the ‘morons’ who sent Gemma death threats as he added: ‘If a newspaper did that or if we did that today, if we spent the next five minutes wishing people dead, we’d be taken off air.
‘Literally, Ofcom would intervene and we’d be taken off air. But nothing happens on Twitter to these morons who abuse footballers and even Captain Tom [Moore] got it and then Gemma Collins – alright, a more divisive, polarising figure…
‘But she shouldn’t have to have people wishing her dead on a public platform with no repercussions for people that do that. What do we do about these people who are little eggheads or smiley faces these days, or accountants with five or six numbers after their names?
‘Who’s organising this because it orchestrated? Who are the bosses behind this? ‘This kind of ”I want you dead” stuff has no place in public discourse.’
Piers Morgan’s Life Stories airs Thursday at 9pm on ITV.
‘Deeply personal’: Last year, a source revealed the self-proclaimed diva will discuss her toxic relationship with James Argent and her ‘self-made millionaire status’ (pictured in 2019)