Eamonn Holmes took a shocking swipe at his GB News co-star Isabel Webster as they discussed Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova recently being criticised over her appearance.
During Monday’s instalment of the daytime programme, Isabel, 41, and Eamonn, 64, were joined by Paul Coyte who delivered the latest sports headlines.
However, the conversation took a personal turn when they discussed how journalist L. Jon Wertheim, 54, recently mocked the tennis professional’s appearance.
Showing a short clip of Jon mocking the size of Barbora’s forehead on live TV, Paul asked the hosts: ‘Is that a huge deal he’s gone because he’s like “look at the forehead” you know, what do you think?’
Isabel then aired her opinion saying she believed his comments were ‘unnecessarily harsh’, however, her co-star Eamonn wasted no time in taking a savage swipe at her as he shockingly said: ‘You’re just speaking as a woman with a big forehead.’
Eamonn Holmes took a shocking swipe at his co-star Isabel Webster as they discussed Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova recently being criticised over her appearance
During Monday’s instalment of the daytime programme, Isabel, 41, and Eamonn, 64, were joined by Paul Coyte who delivered the latest sports headlines
The trio then discussed whether or not the journalist went too far with his comments, to which Isabel said: ‘I agree with her I think back off the forehead comments, people,’ as she jokingly glared at Eamonn.
She added: ‘She can’t do anything about it you know, she’s got a big forehead, why is that an interesting part of her.’
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‘But I understand why it’s a frustration because women’s appearances get commented on all the time.’
Eamonn then disagreed with his co-star and claimed that if he went out in ‘tennis shorts’ all anyone would talk about is his appearance.
He quipped: ‘No, no, no if I went out in tennis shorts all people would be talking about is my appearance.’
‘So I don’t get all this about women all the time, it’s not about women, it’s about if you’re different in some sort of way.’
Despite the heated discussion, Isabel carried on delivering today’s latest headlines like a pro as she discussed whether self-service checkouts should be removed, Sir Keir Starmer spending Armistice Day in Paris, and Princess Catherine attending various Remembrance events over the weekend.
It comes after Barbora hit back at the commentator, who has now been taken off air after he mocked the size of her forehead.
However, the conversation took a personal turn when they discussed how journalist L. Jon Wertheim, 54, recently mocked the tennis professional’s appearance (Barbora pictured this month)
Showing a short clip of Jon mocking the size of Barbora’s forehead on live TV, Paul asked the hosts their opinions on the journalists comments
Isabel then aired her opinion saying she believed his comments were ‘unnecessarily harsh’,
however, her co-star Eamonn wasted no time in taking a savage swipe at her as he shockingly said: ‘You’re just speaking as a woman with a big forehead’
The trio then discussed whether or not the journalist went too far with his comments, to which Isabel said: ‘I agree with her I think back off the forehead comments people’ as she jokingly glared at Eamonn
Unaware he was on air as he mucked around with the camera and his Zoom picture, Wertheim said: ‘Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova?’
He shockingly added: ‘Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court.’
The Czech ace, 28, then hit back at his comments by saying on X: ‘You might have heard about the recent comments made on Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance.
‘As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary.
‘This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in the sports world.’
‘I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media.
‘These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field.
‘I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honours the commitment we make to compete at this level.’
Wertheaim has now been taken off air and a statement issued by the Tennis Channel said: ‘When Tennis Channel became aware of an inappropriate comment about a professional tennis player made by our analyst Jon Wertheim on Friday, we immediately removed him from our air indefinitely.’
The network also apologised to the professional player, as did Jon.
They added: ‘Jon has dedicated his career to shining a light on and growing this sport and has been a valued member of our family and the tennis community.’
‘That said, Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment.’
It comes after Barbora hit back at the commentator, who has now been taken off air after he mocked the size of her forehead
She claimed it was ‘disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary’ as she hit back at the journalist with a long post
Wertheim spoke out when the footage emerged, apologising for his comments while attempting to provide context to the clip.
He wrote on X: ‘During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air.
‘I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out immediately and apologised to the player.
‘What happened? I joined the show by Zoom. In rehearsal, we were shown a graphic of a player who had just competed. It showed her at an angle that exaggerated her forehead.’
‘A few moments later, I was told to frame up my Zoom. I looked at the low camera angle and joked that it made my forehead resemble the pH๏τo of the player in question. Someone in the control room chimed in and I bantered back.’
‘Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently and without context, made it to live air. I realise: I am not the victim here. It was neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be. I am accountable. I own this. I am sorry.’