To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Good Morning Britain viewers have blasted former BBC host Jermaine Jenas for a catastrophic ‘comeback’ interview following his sexting scandal.
The disgraced presenter, who formerly hosted The One Show and Match of the Day, was dismissed with immediate effect by the BBC after ‘sending unsolicited texts’ to a female staff member.
Later, multiple women reportedly came forward, revealing explicit messages sent to colleagues. Accusations against the former footballer include one make-up artist claiming he harassed her for sex in 2017.
The 43-year-old admitted to sending inappropriate texts to two BBC co-workers and, ultimately, his 16-year marriage to ex-wife Ellie Penfold came to an end.
At the end of May, almost two years after his exit from the national broadcaster, he posted a video to Instagram sharing his plans to ‘rebuild his life’.
Just weeks later, he appeared on ITV daytime news show Good Morning Britain, where his TV comeback ended in disaster.
He featured on the show on Friday morning alongside presenters Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway, but viewers claimed he appeared to grow angry, shift responsibility and come across as condescending.
After Kate asked him what he had learned from the situation, he said it was ‘a very specific thing to put your finger on and a little bit unfair question just to find that one thing’.
Ranvir followed up to ask: ‘What is all your advice to the men then? I find this interesting, you’re skirting around what you’ve learned…’
But as she continued speaking, Jermaine seemed to grow more agitated, firmly telling Ranvir that he’s ‘not skirting around anything Ranvir. I’m more than happy to have the conversation which is why I’m here.
‘I’m not here to be defending myself in any way, shape or form. I know what I did was wrong and I accept those punishments so no one is skirting around the responsibility of what I did.
‘I know what I did and I know what I did was wrong, so I don’t understand where that line of questioning is coming from.’
Ranvir jumped into follow-up: ‘So what’s your advice to other men who are in positions of power and think they’re just flirting with women at work. What is your advice to other people who are learning from your mistakes.’
Jermaine reflected that they can ‘look at what happened’ to him but added he ‘wasn’t here to preach to other people and what they should do with their lives’.
Later, adding: ‘I understand why you have to come at me with this line of questioning, and it’s completely fine and if you feel like I’ve not been punished enough, go ahead keep going.’
Ranvir clarified she’s ‘not saying that’, to which Jermaine jumped in once more to defend: ‘You’ve accused me of skirting around the issue’, as the GMB presenter firmly pushed back.
‘What I’m saying, for example… is that people might say that you put yourself in that position,’ she explained.
As the tense back-and-forth calmed down, he was quick to agree and reiterated his acceptance of the consequences of his actions.
‘I did put myself in that position and I’m not sat here begging and pleading for my job back, I’m fully accepting of what was taken away from me.’
Nonetheless, his heated discussion with Ranvir was heavily criticised by those watching at home.
‘Jermaine Jenas interview on GMB didn’t go well. Not sure getting angry with the female presenters was the look he was going for!’ X user davewl1972 said.
Another user 71dd0 added: ‘Well, that was a car crash from Jermaine Jenas. Defensive, dismissive, condescending and no public apology aside from one to his wife.
‘Loads of smiling and deflection. Passive-aggressive through the grins. All wrapped up with a veil of “I lost my career”.’
‘Well, that was the strangest interview ever. Jermaine Jenas seemed totally rattled. Not quite the comeback interview he was probably hoping for,’ CNdupuechi noted.
‘Whoever advised Jermaine Jenas to go on GMB has properly stitched him up, the guy’s made himself look like a right fool & definitely hasn’t done himself any favour,’ forestforever11 added.
‘Ranvir destroying Jermaine Jenas reminded me of CBB,’ mike_619 shared.
On a podcast last July, he explained his marriage was not in a good place at the time, adding: ‘I dealt with it wrong and got heavily punished for it by losing pretty much everything that I had at that time.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.