Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins highlighted that guest Kevin Maguire was not wearing a poppy on the show – sparking fury amongst viewers.
During Monday’s instalment, the journalist, 64, joined the programme to discuss the upcoming autumn budget, which Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is set to present on October 30.
However, after the panel wrapped up the latest headlines, the TV presenter, 49, decided to address why he was not wearing a poppy after many viewers took to social media to air their frustrations.
Charlotte said: ‘Just before we go, Kevin, viewers have noticed that you’re not wearing a poppy. I know this is something we’ve addressed in previous years but would you like to explain your decision, why you don’t wear a poppy?’
Kevin jokingly replied: ‘We haven’t had Halloween yet!’
Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins recently highlighted that guest Kevin Maguire was not wearing a poppy on the show – after he sparked fury amongst viewers
During Monday’s instalment, the journalist, 64, joined the programme to discuss the autumn budget, which Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is set to present on October 30
However, he highlighted how many people in his family had fought in the war and how members continued to serve in the forces.
He added: ‘If I wear a poppy, I always make a donation. If I wear a poppy I’ll wear it in the week of Remembrance Sunday, not before.’
‘That’s what I do, it’s become elongated now and the ‘poppy police’ every year go around pointing the finger.’
Kevin also told viewers at home that if they were to go into their workplace, most people would not be wearing a poppy.
He added: ‘It’s not because they’re disrespectful, it’s that they’ll have a different tradition of when they wear them or if they wear them.’
However, Andrew Pierce didn’t hold back when it came to sharing his thoughts on the decision.
Disagreeing with Kevin, he said: ‘I disagree. I think you should wear it as early as possible to promote it, to make people aware of it and to pay tribute. As early as possible.’
Kevin then poked fun at Andrew and joked if he had that outlook then he could wear it all year round.
However, after the panel wrapped up the latest headlines, the TV presenter, 49, decided to address why he wasn’t wearing a poppy after viewers took to social media to air their frustrations
Charlotte said: ‘Just before we go, Kevin, viewers have noticed that you’re not wearing a poppy. I know this is something we’ve addressed in previous years but would you like to explain your decision?’
He said: ‘If I wear a poppy, I always make a donation. If I wear a poppy I’ll wear it in the week of Remembrance Sunday, not before’
He added: ‘That’s what I do, it’s become elongated now and the ‘poppy police’ every year go around pointing the finger’
Viewers then took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the discussion, and many had mixed views on the matter
He replied: ‘You can have poppy pyjamas and a duvet if you want.’
Andrew informed Charlotte and Ed Balls that he will be wearing a ‘very special’ poppy instead and she said: ‘We’re glad you cleared that up.’
Viewers then took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the discussion, and many had mixed views on the matter.
Some viewers ‘switched off’ while others rushed to defend his decision after he explained his reasons why.
One viewer wrote: ‘#gmb Why question if someone has a poppy on or not it’s a personal choice.’; ‘You can’t be asking people why they don’t wear a poppy on live TV. I don’t like that at all #GMB.’
‘It’s ridiculous that everyone on telly is guilt tripped into wearing a poppy, it should be entirely up to the person if and when they choose to wear one, something the poppy police seem to take issue with #gmb.’
‘Why are we asking people why they aren’t wearing a poppy f** [sic] People are so unbelievably busy nowadays #GMB’