Spencer Matthews has responded to the trolling Ulrika Jonsson received after appearing on his podcast.
Yesterday, Ulrika, 57, told online commenters to stop “judging women’s appearances” in a statement on Instagram, after she featured on Spencer’s Untapped podcast to speak about being sober for a year.
And now Spencer has also posted his own response, standing by the former Shooting Stars team captain.
“People shouldn’t comment on the appearance of others,” Spencer posted on Instagram, alongside a news article about Ulrika’s appearance. “We stand with Ulrika.”
“We were honoured to have Ulrika Jonsson join Untapped for a powerful, vulnerable, and deeply honest conversation about her journey to sobriety,” Spencer wrote.
“Ulrika's courage in speaking openly - not just abot her drinking, but also about ageing, health and self-acceptance, is exactly the kind of voice we aim to amplify on this platform.
“She showed up authentically and with no filter, and we're proud to stand alongside her in championing substance over surface.
“The episode is a reminder that true strength lies in honesty - not how we look, but in the actions we take, and what we choose to share.
“We're grateful to Ulrika for doing just that.”
While Ulrika said she received a lot of positivity about the podcast, she pointed out yesterday that many of the comments criticised her appearance.
“I understand that an over-tanned, imperfect and ageing face offends you,” she wrote.
“But try to listen to the words rather than constantly judging women’s appearance. You might learn something. And making people feel s*** doesn’t make you a hero.”
Ulrika also said she opted to go make-up free for the recording “partly because I kinda forgot that a project for the ears is nowadays also a feast for the eyes”.
"But as someone who has had to wear heavy make-up on screen from 5am for years, I'm not a fan,” she added.
"Most crucially though, since childhood I've suffered from eczema. On my body - the creases of my arms and legs - on my face - eyes and lips. Make-up has always been the enemy because it's been agony to wear.”
She added: “In a few weeks I will be 58. I will never look like the fresh 21yr old that used to greet you first thing in the morning by the weather board.”
Ulrika also said she was “not ashamed to say that I am a sun worshipper and will no doubt pay the price for that”.
“I have uneven pigmentation doubtlessly not helped by ageing,” she added. “I sometimes use filters in my pics because it's easier than foundation and less painful.”
The presenter gave up drinking last year, and wrote an article for The Times headlined “I’m Ulrika Jonsson and I’m an alcoholic”.
Speaking on the podcast, Ulrika - who has the help of a support group - told Spencer her main aim in life was to stay sober.
“For me, now sobriety is my priority, even though I used to say ‘Oh my children are my priority’,” she shared.
“Without my sobriety, I can’t be there for my children, or something awful might happen, or whatever else.”
