Amanda Holden sparks uproar after claim Paul O'Grady 'not woke in any way' during tribute
Amanda Holden paid her tributes after the news broke that Paul O'Grady had died but has caused "offence" after she claimed the presenter was "not woke".
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Amanda Holden joined co-host Jamie Theakston on their Heart Breakfast Radio show on Wednesday morning where they paid their tributes to Paul O'Grady. The TV presenter died "unexpectedly but peacefully" at the age of 67 on Tuesday, March 28. Amanda has caused an uproar with listeners after she claimed the entertainer and comedian was "not woke" despite his own comments in previous years.
Amanda spoke fondly of Paul and looked back at their memories together throughout their careers.
She appeared alongside Paul on a special episode of For the Love of Dogs last year, where they were also accompanied by Queen Camilla.
Discussing the news, Amanda admitted she was "completely shocked" before going on to share her thoughts on Paul.
She expressed: "Do you know what I loved about him? He was not woke in any way. He had massive opinions on everything, which I love people like that.
READ MORE: Amanda Holden sparks uproar during Paul O'Grady tribute
"Really really funny, very witty. Everything that came out of his mouth was brilliant".
However, some listeners had an issue with the comment she made and questioned how much she knew Paul and his life.
Twitter user @getstupid commented: "Either @AmandaHolden has no idea what 'woke' means, or she has no idea who Paul O'Grady was".
@MutualAidLiker said: "'He didn't have a woke bone in his body'. That would be the drag artist, AIDS campaigner, LGBTQ+ hero and anti-austerity critic Paul O'Grady."
@MxDarren_ asked: "The man was a queer activist, trailblazer and unapologetic drag queen on prime-time TV when being gay was seen as dirty. What about that isn't woke?"
Sharon Tully added: "[Paul] was woke before woke was woke."
@Amanda_Locky3 exclaimed: "Paul O’Grady was the epitome of WOKE." (sic)
However, not all viewers took offence with @andy_bayed defending: "I think she means he wasn't afraid to offend. Which is fair enough".
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Martyn Waller agreed: "She knew him better than any of us ever did". (sic)
During his career, Paul had suggested his life was "woke" and told The Sun in 2020: "I'm married to a ballet dancer.
"I've got a daughter, two grandkids and was married to a Portuguese lesbian barmaid. It doesn't get much more woke."
However, the following year, when asked if he thought society had "become too 'woke'," he told the Independent: "We've become nit-pickers. [...] If somebody puts a foot wrong, they are leapt on. You are not allowed to have an opinion."
Amanda had also paid tribute on Instagram and wrote: "Woken up to this sad, sad news. I loved Paul. He was brilliantly opinionated, searingly sharp and very funny." (sic)
The presenter further commented alongside a photo of herself alongside Paul: "I loved our conversations. I can't quite believe it. Thoughts with Andre and their family". (sic)
Heart Breakfast with Jamie & Amanda airs weekdays from 6am on Heart Radio.