Alison Hammond has admitted she's glad that a group of protesters have been cleared of causing criminal damage after the statue of slave master Edward Colston was toppled and thrown into Bristol harbour.
As she hosted Thursday's This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary, Alison discussed the latest headlines with regular guest Vanessa Feltz.
As the conversation turned to the news of the so-called 'Colston 4' being cleared at Bristol Crown Court of criminal damage, Alison was keen to make her feelings known.
"I personally think it's a good thing. I mean, if it affects you, and that story did affect me as a black woman," she began.
"I was actually quite happy about it and they didn't try and damage the statue, they wanted to remove it and there was loads and loads of lobbies that went into it to try and remove it before and they were ignored.
"So I personally, for the fact that he was a murderer, I was happy to see that statue gone," Alison continued.
"I'm not condoning the fact that it was damaged and there was vandal and I don't want to to happen to loads of other statues. however I was glad that this statue was removed and I'm glad that these guys are off."
The controversial landmark was rolled and dragged into the water during Black Lives Matter protests in the city on June 7, 2020.
Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Skuse, 32, and Sage Willoughby, 21, were arrested and charged.
Six others accepted conditional police cautions for their part in the incident.
All four had denied the charge.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.
