Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid rejected a request for a hug from her co-star Adil Ray on Monday’s show, in a bid to ‘protect’ the host.
Marking the lightening of coronavirus restrictions, Adil, 47, ventured towards a concerned Susanna, 50, saying: ‘Come on, I haven’t seen you in such a long time!’ however she nervously declined his offer.
Referencing the show’s medical professional Dr Hilary, she said: ‘What did Dr Hilary say? I am still in the mood for a virtual hug!’
Monday marked a momentous day for Brits, as inside socialising, hugging, certain flights and much more were permitted however Susanna continued to exercise caution off the back of warnings to excited viewers.
No! Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid rejected a request for a hug from her co-star Adil Ray on Monday’s show, in a bid to ‘protect’ the host
Susanna and Adil were chatting during which he said: ‘Come on, I haven’t seen you in such a long time!’, leading to Susanna’s polite decline.
She went on to say: ‘If we ration our hugs that means we can hug at more important times. I’m saving mine for my mum and dad, sorry Adil’.
Adil went on: ‘If there was no pandemic you still would not hug people. ‘We went to the National Television Awards, we jumped on a bus to go there, I went to hug you and you went “No it’s fine!”‘
Dr Hilary said: ‘Ask them if they want to hug, get consent first, and then by all means hug, but I would still wear a mask, I would turn your head away and not talk to them whilst you’re hugging them, because it’s aerosol contact.’
Not today pal: Marking the lightening of coronavirus restrictions, Adil, 47, ventured towards a concerned Susanna, 50, saying: ‘Come on, I haven’t seen you in such a long time!’ however she nervously declined his offer
No thanks: Susanna and Adil were chatting during which he said: ‘Come on, I haven’t seen you in such a long time!’, leading to Susanna’s polite decline
The exchange comes after Susanna and fellow host Ben Shephard were forced into action on Thursday after an animal rights campaigner graphically described the slaughter of battery hens.
A faction of viewers almost choked on their cornflakes after PETA animal rights spokesperson Dr. Carys Bennett bluntly detailed the manner in which chickens are prepared for human consumption during a live interview at 8:30am.
But her descriptive language prompted audible gasps from the presenting team, with its principal hosts cutting in as they discussed a new bill that enables any animal with a vertebrae to legally feel emotions such as joy and sadness.
Not a chance: She went on to say: ‘If we ration our hugs that means we can hug at more important times. I’m saving mine for my mum and dad, sorry Adil’
Appearing on the show remotely from her Leicester home, Bennett said: ‘Billions of chickens are killed a year in the UK, their life is just a living hell.
‘They’re killed at just six weeks old having suffered a super-sized body; they’re so heavy their legs break beneath them. They’re crammed into crates breaking their wings in the process.’
She added: ‘They’re shipped off to the slaughterhouse, hung upside down, electrocuted, and their throats are slit.’
Get off! Adil went on: ‘If there was no pandemic you still would not hug people. ‘We went to the National Television Awards, we jumped on a bus to go there, I went to hug you and you went “No it’s fine!”‘
With Bennett demanding how the process can justifiably continue, Susanna and Ben quickly diverted attention to farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, who was on hand to offer a contrasting opinion from his own home in North Wales.
The interaction prompted a mixed response from viewers, with some defending the activist’s right to free speech while others expressed unhappiness with her choice of words.
Taking to Twitter, one raged: ‘Why did you stop her telling your viewers the truth???? The meat industry is disgusting.’
Your turn: The exchange comes after Susanna and fellow host Ben Shephard were forced into action on Thursday after an animal rights campaigner graphically described the slaughter of battery hens
While a second wrote: ‘Obviously a twisted farmer is going to say to eat innocent defenceless animals because they sell them for GREED.’
Hitting out at Bennett, another commented: ‘Nice…. Does this woman know young children are watching?? Throats being slit, oh dear.’
While a fourth added: ‘Calm down, this is all a bit much for 8.30 in the morning!’
The new Animal Sentience Bill, part of a Government drive to raise welfare standards, will give any animal with a spine the legal right to the same feelings experienced by humans.
Mixed opinion: The interaction prompted a mixed response from viewers, with some defending the activist’s right to free speech while others expressed unhappiness with her choice of words