Loose Women presenter Charlene White has taken to Twitter explaining why she won't be wearing a poppy on screen in the run up to Armistice Day on November 11.
The host said: "For @loosewomen, @itvnews and @itvlondon who aren’t aware about me not wearing a poppy on screen in the lead up to 11th November. Here’s a statement and explanation that I’ve posted in previous years."
Charlene said that the decision not to wear a poppy was never easy because of the 'racist and sexist abuse she 'often receives' on social media.
She said:"I support and am patron of a number of charities, and due to impartiality rules, I am not allowed to visually support them all whilst presenting news programmes.
"That includes things like a red ribbon for World Aids Day, or a purple band for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
"Both these and many more charities do great things in the UK, but I'm not allowed to give them exposure on screen.
"So I feel uncomfortable supporting just one charity above all others, namely The Royal British Legion, but I fully support my colleagues who do choose to wear the poppy on screen."
Charlene said while she doesn't wear a poppy on screen, in her private life it's very different.
She said:"I wear a poppy on Armistice Day - in fact I wear one that my friend Jen's mum knitted for me a few years ago.
"And I proudly have one of the ceramic poppies from the Tower Of London on my mantelpiece."
The host explains she donates money every year to the British Legion and comes from a Forces family as her dad and uncle served in the RAF and Army respectively.
She added: "So please don't think that I don't support the work that our service personnel do, or that I don't understand the sacrifices made by servicemen and women 100 years ago. I do."
Charlene conceded that not everyone will support her decision but said: "It is always important to remember what my family, your family, and millions of people over many generations have fought for: the right to choose, and the right of freedom of speech and expression."
The presenter's post was met with mixed reaction with one Loose Women viewer tweeting: "Lots supports other charities and causes but they still wear a poppy what makes you so special ?"
However another wrote: "Well done for not being bullied into something that goes against your morals … if people are being rude about you then that’s their problem of being ignorant not yours …your standing up for what is right for you well done."
Loose Women on ITV weekdays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm
