A Loose Women star is reportedly threatening to boycott the show if Nadia Sawalha is allowed to return to the show.
Sawalha, 61, has been absent from the popular daytime TV series since late April.
At the time, there were reports that Sawalha had been axed from the show after she allegedly made antisemitic remarks on her YouTube channel.
Sawalha denies these reports, branding them ‘lies’ on Instagram and explaining ‘I have not been suspended from Loose Women.’
However, The Sun now reports that there is considerable friction behind the scenes at ITV over Sawalha’s planned return.
They claim that a 15-page dossier outlining Sawalha’s alleged antisemitic remarks was handed to ITV bosses on Tuesday, which accuses her of ‘peddling in antisemitic conspiracy theories, tropes and rhetoric.’
The dossier notably accuses Sawalha of mocking antisemitism allegations, and of promoting a false claim that Israel had passed a law to ‘hang Muslims and Christians’.
Reportedly, one panellist has threatened to boycott the show entirely if Sawalha returns.
‘It was the only thing anyone was talking about yesterday,’ an insider told The Sun.
‘There is so much bad blood. Nadia has many defenders on the show, but others have made it crystal clear they will flat-out refuse to work with her.
They claim some staff consider her a ‘loose cannon’, and they fear that associating with her could tarnish their own reputations.
The situation has been further inflamed over a belief that bosses have been protecting Sawalha.
‘Other stars have been hung out to dry or quietly iced out over relatively small misdemeanours, yet execs seem determined to defend Nadia,’ another unnamed insider explained.
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‘It’s causing a lot of bitterness, and some of those working on the show are fuming. It is one rule for Nadia and another for the rest.’
The drama couldn’t come at a worse time for Loose Women.
The series, along with other ITV shows, had its budget significantly reduced last year.
There are now fears that any controversy may cause advertisers to walk away from the show, putting further pressure on an already stretched budget.
Metro has reached out to Sawalha and ITV for comment.
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