Lorraine Kelly divided viewers this morning as she had Kathleen Stock on her show, an academic who quit her job due to immense backlash on her comments about trans people.
Kathleen Stock has an OBE for her contribution to higher education but stepped down from her position at Sussex University last month after a campaign called 'Stock Out' called for her to be sacked for her stance on gender identity.
Starting the segment on the show, Lorraine asked the former professor what exactly her comments were that resulted in this intense backlash from students.
Stock told the Scots presenter: "Well I've got some views people think are controversial, I'm afraid feeling like a woman doesn't make you a woman as far as I'm concerned.
"There's a difference between trans women and women - that it's important when it comes to laws, policies, sports, prisons and changing rooms. That's the area, obviously it's controversial and students really didn't like it."
Lorraine goes onto challenge stock telling her: "Trans people have a terrible time, they really do. There's a high rate of suicide, they go through and they face abuse.
"You've been accused of being 'the enemy' if you like, are you transphobic?"
Stock insisted she’s not transphobic and insists her concerns come down to people using self ID to say, for example, they feel like a woman, and therefore gain access into women's areas.
Stock continued on saying that inviting trans men and women into changing rooms makes them unisex.
Lorraine stressed that while she ‘disagreed’ with Stock comments, we shouldn’t ‘shut down debate’.
Lorraine argued: "I don't agree with everything that you're saying at all, but that's okay because we can talk about it"
As the discussion between the two carries on, Lorraine blasts the claims that the former professor was a victim of cancel culture stating: "But you've not really been cancelled, because you walked away from your job."
Lorraine reminds Stock she has more of a voice now as she appears on her show, was seen on Women's Hour and sees her books be reprinted.
Some fans praised Lorraine for the way she articulated herself throughout the interview with Stock as it is good to see two people on opposing arguments discuss calmly.
One user said: “But you’ve not *really* been cancelled, because you walked away from your job!” - @reallorraine doing sterling work on @lorraine calling out the fake “cancel culture” claim often used by ‘gender critical’ transphobes."
Another replied: "Thank you to Lorraine Kelly for saying that she believes trans women are women and for being the only person in British media to point out the obvious to Kathleen Stock: “You haven't really been silenced. You have *more* of a voice now.”"
A third tweeted: "The most amazing thing about #LorraineKelly 's interview with transphobe Stock was that she concluded an interview about "having the conversation" by asking what Stock wants to happen. Twice. And she didn't answer it. The only person silencing Stock is herself."
However, not everyone was happy to see the Scots presenter give a platform to the controversial academic.
Someone tweeted: "It's good that Lorraine Kelly vocally stated her support for trans people but our voice is still nowhere to be seen. A transphobe, (stock) was interviewed. The discussion on transphobia had no trans people present. We are affected by transphobia daily yet still not heard."
Another commented: "The issue isn't opinions, its actions. When people are lobbying and campaigning to make life more difficult for LGBTQ people, people are understandably going to be angry at that."
A third wrote: "You are free to believe that Lorraine, however you can't expect anyone else to share your beliefs, although I do understand that you accept that. I don't believe it, because it is obviously not true."
Lorraine airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
