Fiona Bruce has faced fire for asking a ‘offensive’ question to a visually challenged individual during Question Time.
The 59-year-old BBC broadcaster is no stranger to controversy, having generated outrage last year when she was accused of ‘trivialising’ domestic abuse and apologised months later for referring to an audience member as a ‘Black dude’.
Question Time viewers have encouraged her to issue a public apology after’mocking’ a visually challenged person for wearing sunglasses.
Discussing the topic ‘Should everyone have the right to express their opinion even if others find it unpalatable?’ Bruce opened to questions from members of the audience, including one woman sat at the back wearing sunglasses.
The debate, which was held in Croydon and included the likes of Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Caroline Lucas on the panel, saw Bruce ask: ‘Yes at the very back, there’s two people, you’ve got sunglasses on, I know these lights are bright, I didn’t know they were that bright! But anyway off you go.’
The audience member aptly hit back with: ‘I promise I have a licence to wear these, they’re not sunglasses.’
‘Oh forgive me, forgive me,’ Bruce chuckled, before moving on.
As the clip was shared on X, viewer @Suebeloo1971 wrote: ‘Fiona Bruce should make a public apology for mocking a VI/blind lady for wearing sunglasses in the studio for @bbcquestiontime.
‘@BBCOne @RNIB_campaigns @RNIB As someone who is registered blind with extreme light sensitivity I found it offensive!’
‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,’ @ScouseLakes said.
‘It took me aback. I was like wtf,’ the original X user replied, as @Nevererdofher said: ‘This was awful.’
@MRL2017 fumed: ‘OMG why did she have to comment anyway. Not relevant. She is so….’
@KaronHull7Hull added: ‘Fiona Bruce is just a Tory stooge and mocks people that have a disability!. I can’t stand her!’
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
— ScouseLakes (@ScouseLakes) March 1, 2024
Jesus..I'm still cringing at this. How bloody rude.
— Vee (@Auntygoya) February 29, 2024
Agreed! But the appalling comment from Fiona Bruce about her wearing "sunglasses" was unforgivable, although she handled it extremely well.
— Catherine Phillips (@cath_phillips) February 29, 2024
Put this woman in the #bbcqt audience every week. How refreshing. pic.twitter.com/QgDJrBtklk
— faQTory (@faQTories) February 29, 2024
Auntygoya blasted: ‘Jesus..I’m still cringing at this. How bloody rude.’
Others focused on the comments made by the audience member, who spoke about the government’s lack of a ‘concrete plan for the general election’, saying they’ll be ‘fighting this election on culture wars’.
‘This intelligent girl summed up the governments insidious behaviour very well,’ viewer @AmerXMirza said.
@Polthedaddy added: ‘This lady spoke so much sense.’
@Cath_Phillips also commented: ‘Agreed! But the appalling comment from Fiona Bruce about her wearing “sunglasses” was unforgivable, although she handled it extremely well.’
Question Time airs Thursdays at 10.40pm on BBC One.
Source My Celebrity Life.