Fans have rallied to protect Kate Garraway after trolls chastised her for booking a luxurious flight despite being hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt.
The popular Good Morning Britain broadcaster, 56, lost her husband Derek Draper in January, more than three years after contracting Covid-19.
Kate spent that time recording their relationship and her caring for her late spouse through a series of award-winning documentaries.
However, the ITV actress has incurred stratospheric debts as a result of modifying their family home for his requirements following Draper’s hospital discharge, which she believes to be between £500,000 and £800,000.
So, when she flew first class on an Emirates jet this weekend, social media trolls understandably sprang to conclusions.
Kate expressed her thanks for a top-tier service, despite severe weather and delays, on Instagram, with a photo of a bunch of flowers: ‘Just came back home from a fantastic week filming – met some very inspirational individuals (can tell all in September). Every aircraft that lands safely is considered a nice flight by me!
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‘But this was exceptional. Despite storms internationally and delays the staff were calm and kind and managed to look as fresh as these flowers – even on landing. I am more resembling pot pouri but feel great! ! ! Thanks @emirates . #itsthelittlebigthings #kind #gratitude #pureclass.’
People quickly reached out, despite the fact that the airfare was most likely paid for by the production team on her recently announced TV show.
Fortunately, there were enough admirers on board to put the record straight.
‘What a nasty comment from a sad little mis informed person. Shows how your mind works. Don’t judge others by your own sad little life’, blasted georginacolebourne.
‘Kate is a journalist, that’s her job, that’s how she earns money to support her family. Why do people feel it necessary to criticise her. Is she supposed to hibernate give up her job and look for something else to do to support her family!!’, commented flynn5488.
‘Some people are just vile! She’s a working mum with 2 children to raise. What is she supposed to do. Work is probably her way of dealing with her loss. I know mine was when I lost my husband of 34 years. In my prayers Kate x’, echoed kay.stride.
‘Kate has just lost her husband, she’s working to support her children. The flight was probably paid by the company she’s working for. Why are people so nasty with their comments. If you’re not happy don’t read the posts. Sending love to you Kate x’, wrote janecooper936.
Others told Kate that she should be’so proud’ of how she is dealing with her sadness, and they hoped she had ‘time to rest’ amidst her work.
Kate previously disclosed that her husband’s care costs £16,000 each month, which is more than her ITV income.
In her most recent documentary, she stated candidly: ‘I am in debt. I can’t earn enough money to cover my debt because I am managing Derek’s care and I can’t even use the money I do have to support Derek’s recovery because it’s going on the basics all the time.’
She added: ‘I’m not going to pretend that I am poorly paid, I have an incredible job that I love, which is well-paid, but it’s not enough.’
Kate also called out the system in the ITV programme, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story.
‘Time and time again the system tells us that Derek isn’t sick enough, doesn’t have enough of a health need to qualify for funded care.
‘I’ve appealed but that still hasn’t been processed two-and-a-half, three years later.
‘If this is what it’s like for me, what on Earth is it like for everybody else?
‘Something has to be done, or the whole service, the people working in it, everything is going to break.’
Before Draper died, Kate owed more than £700,000 in obligations generated by the collapse of his psychotherapy firm, and she had no legal power to oversee his business interests when he fell ill.
Source My Celebrity Life.