Laura Whitmore mocked after claiming she had no idea army podcast was recruitment tool
The Love Island host included “#ad” when she posted about her podcast on Instagram but insists she had no idea it was being used to recruit people to the British Army
Laura Whitmore is being mocked online after claiming she had no idea her army podcast was a recruitment tool, despite putting #ad on her post.
The Love Island host says her podcast The Locker was simply about body confidence and women working in a male-dominated industry, but a freedom of information request carried out by The Times found that the series was set up specifically to recruit people into the armed forces.
When the Irish star posted about her podcast, she shared a picture of herself giving a thumbs up while wearing a camouflage T-shirt.
The 35-year-old wrote: “Really pleased to share the first episode of the new podcast series ‘The Locker’ . Hear me talk about all things confidence, body positivity, being female in a male dominated industry & overcoming insecurities with the inspiring Ella, a soldier in the @britisharmy
“Ella’s body changed when she trained and she didn’t fit into the stereotypical ‘feminine’ shape but she is proud of her body and knows to accept and appreciate herself and her strength. Her life is very different to mine but I learned a lot talking to her. We also chat pressures to look a certain way and fit in no matter what you do and where you come from #confidence #TheLocker #ad”
She caused upset at the time by sharing a tribute post to John Hume just after it.
He was a key architect of the peace process, who won a Nobel prize for helping to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
He had died that day.
She posted “RIP John Hume” and shared a quote of his which read: “Ireland is not a romantic dream; it is not a flag; it is 4.5 million people divided into two powerful traditions.
“The solution will be found not on the basis of victory for either, but on the basis of agreement and a partnership.”
People criticised Laura for promoting the British Army, but she insisted she would never do that.
After the story about the podcast’s aim dropped yesterday, Laura took to Twitter to say she felt media outlets were twisting the story.
She wrote: “I’m used to media outlets twisting stories and aware I have a platform that I will use and continue to use. Especially to speak about how men have written about women in the past as well as lots of issues I feel strong about.”
She also shared the email she had sent to The Times’ news editor, in which she told him it was “sad” that he was “making a story out of an old story and twisting it when such an important newspaper could be using their space to tackle issues currently affecting the people in the country”.
Laura, who said she began her career in a male-dominated newsroom in Ireland, said she was asked to speak about her experiences as a female in the world of TV.
She penned: “I did not host the discussion, another journalist did. And I was told I was going to speak with a 23 year old soldier in the British (The country I currently live in) army about being a woman in a male dominated career.
“I don’t agree with the history of the British army and atrocities they have inflicted however I have friends and colleagues who are currently doctors and nurses there. And who are good people.”
Laura also said she had Dame Kelly Holmes on her own podcast, Castaway, to speak about her experience in the army, but that she herself has never been in the army and therefore would not tell people to sign up for something she had no experience of herself.
Some people on Twitter weren’t satisfied with her response, especially after the statement given by an army spokesperson.
The Locker podcast was created by Capita, which is a digital services and software business that has worked with The British Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force for the past eight years.
Capita’s website states that the purpose of its partnership with the armed forces is “single minded” and that is “to recruit tomorrow’s army today”.
A spokeswoman for the British Army said that “all the influencers were briefed on the background of the campaign”.
She added that they were all aware that the podcast was “a continuation of the army recruitment campaign” and that “it was an activity promoting army jobs”.
People responded to Laura’s tweet demanding further explanation.
One wrote: “Well explain this one away, Laura! They were all made aware that the Podcast was ‘a continuation of the army recruitment campaign” and that “it was an activity promoting army jobs’.”
She answered: “I’d love that explained too. As I had no such conversation. Nor have been given a name of ‘said source’”
“She knew,” another wrote while sharing the army spokeswoman quote.
A third penned: “You were paid money to promote young working class people to go to their death in futile wars (I say that as a British citizen) & as an Irish citizen your decision is beyond cynical. Stop lying about that you took part in army recruitment & hiding behind feminism. Shame on you”
Another posted: “It reads as disingenuous to skip over the fact that you were paid to appear on and promote the podcast *as part of an army recruitment ad campaign aimed at women*, which differentiates it from your other broadcast work where you are paid to present rather than promote something”
However, many of her fans had her back.
One told her: “Best wishes Laura, don’t let people who are stuck in the past get you down.”
MirrorCeleb