Broadcast regulator Ofcom is investigating ITV’s Loose Women following an incident that saw Katie Price’s disabled son, Harvey, swear on live TV.
Price’s son joined her on the ITV show last month for a segment to discuss internet trolls.
The media watchdog confirmed it had received 10 complaints following the 17 May episode.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom is investigating this programme which included the most offensive language before the watershed.”
Fourteen-year-old Harvey, whose father is footballer Dwight Yorke, is visually impaired, autistic and suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome.
The NHS describes Prader-Willi syndrome as a “rare genetic condition that causes a wide range of problems”, among them “a constant desire to eat, learning difficulties and reduced muscle tone”.
Harvey has frequently been the target of online abuse and when asked on the show about people who had targeted him, he used the c-word.
Price asked him: “If someone says something horrible to Harvey, what does Harvey say?” It was then he swore.
Another panellist, Andrea McLean, immediately said: “We apologise for that. But this is one of the reasons that we wanted to do this live.”
Price said producers had considered filming the interview in advance, but she added: “I want people to see what he’s like, not manufacture and edit what he’s like.”
Explaining why she had brought him on Loose Women, she said: “I’ve come to the show obviously about the trolling, a few months ago I came on because the most disgusting things were said about Harvey, some of which I wouldn’t be able to say on air.
“It was important to bring Harvey on air because people can see what he’s like, how vulnerable he is.”
Ofcom further added that in relation to Harvey’s welfare, they had received sufficient assurances from ITV that the broadcaster had ensured due care of him, and as such they would not be pursuing any potential issues in this regard any further.
Viewers quickly posted messages of support on Twitter.
@MissKatiePrice I know he just swore on TV, by mistake, but probably the best response he could say to trolls!! Well done Harvey! 💪💪👊👍
— Louise Charles (@Louisecharles) May 17, 2016
lol I think Harvey's Response was right with what he said on loose women to the people who troll him #loosewomen
— jem (@calliescutie) May 17, 2016
Piers Morgan, who was a guest on the following day’s Loose Women, said: “There are probably some idiots at home already firing away on their keyboards after hearing him swear because they think it’s funny.
“But I don’t think it is funny to mock Harvey. He’s got great courage, a great sense of humour and his mum does an incredible job of looking after him.”
