Radio host Ash London has taken a social media leave of absence after receiving death threats from One Direction fans over an on-air joke she made about one of the band’s members.
London has been filling the Hit Network’s breakfast slot for the summer alongside Ed Kavalee and Ash Williams, and the way in which she introduced a pre-recorded interview with 1D’s Louis Tomlinson did not go down well with many of his fans.
The radio host described Tomlinson’s facial hair as “ratty” before pressing the play button on the interview, sparking outrage and death threats from 1D fans on Twitter and the band’s fan websites.
@AshLondonLIVE I used to really enjoy your interviews because you seemed so professional and fun, but my opinion on your completely changed after hearing all the rude shit y’all said about louis. it was disgusting and uncalled for & you should really apologise #AshLondon
— rs (@rhoksarsatar) December 12, 2017
@AshLondonLIVE do you think this is an appropriate was to talk about one of your guests, or any human being in general? I’m disgusted, Louis is a kind man who doesn’t desevre to be spoken about in such a derogatory, cruel way. It’s completely unprofessional. pic.twitter.com/V045Zi4aEk
— scarlet x (@scarletwadee) December 11, 2017
.@ash_london @AshLondonLIVE If you want the goodwill of One Direction fans ever again, you must issue an apology NOW for the unprofessional and disrespectful treatment of @Louis_tomlinson on your show. And even then, our goodwill is not a lock.
— Miss You by Louis Tomlinson (@newkewbytube17) December 11, 2017
– ratty facial hair
– smaller face
– not Harry Styles
– quite skinny
– least popular of One Direction@ash_london you guys are disgusting and shouldn’t count on our support anymore. I cannot believe that you said such vile things on radio, unprofessional.— Morgane ◟̽◞̽ (@versaillestyIes) December 11, 2017
Soon after, London posted the following statement on Twitter:
— ash london (@ash_london) December 12, 2017
And Tomlinson responded with this:
Probs best to stay on private for a bit longer love !
— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) December 12, 2017
London posted another statement a few hours later apologising for the joke and telling her Twitter followers she was taking a break from social media due to the abuse she had been receiving because of it.
— ash london (@ash_london) December 12, 2017
