Amanda Holden has ignored backlash over her radio tribute to Paul O'Grady by 'going back to university'. The Britain's Got Talent judge was one of countless famous faces to speak out on the loss of the comedian and TV and radio star after his 'unexpected' death was announced earlier this week.
His husband Andre Portasio confirmed the shock news that O'Grady, who rose to fame on the nightclub circuit as the acerbic, platinum wig-wearing Lily Savage, died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening (March 28).
He added: "He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion. I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years."
After the news broke in the early hours of Wednesday morning (March 29), Amanda took to Instagram with a selfie of the pair which she captured when they both attended a reception hosted by the Queen Consort, who was the Duchess of Cornwall at the time, at Clarence House, London, to mark the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home's 160th anniversary back in July last year.
O’Grady also met the late Queen, Elizabeth II, alongside Amanda at Battersea’s south London kennels in 2015, but an endeavour to get the monarch to adopt a new corgi were not successful.
Sharing the snap of the pair from last summer, Amanda, 52, penned on Instagram: "Woken up to this sad, sad news. I loved Paul. He was brilliantly opinionated, searingly sharp and very funny... I loved our conversations. I can’t quite believe it." She added: "Thoughts with Andre and their family."
However, the TV star and actress later spoke about O'Grady - with whom she had also appeared alongside on a special episode of his ITV show For the Love of Dogs last year - on her Heart Breakfast radio show. Discussing his death, she said to her co-host Jamie Theakston, 52, that she was "completely shocked".
She commented on the show: "Do you know what I loved about him? He was not woke in any way. He had massive opinions on everything, which I love people like that." Amanda - who's an ambassador for animal charity Battersea, like O'Grady was - added: "Really really funny, very witty. Everything that came out of his mouth was brilliant".
However, some listeners have taken issue with her comments, questioning whether she knows the meaning of the term 'woke' and whether she knew much about the late entertainer's life. One tweeted: "Either [Amanda] has no idea what 'woke' means, or she has no idea who Paul O'Grady was".
Another said: "'He didn't have a woke bone in his body'. That would be the drag artist, AIDS campaigner, LGBTQ+ hero and anti austerity critic Paul O'Grady." A third tweeted: "The man was a queer activist, trailblazer and unapologetic drag queen on prime time TV when being gay was seen as dirty. What about that isn't woke?" Another added on social media: "[Paul] was woke before woke was woke."
But while people speak about her tribute, Amanda has been busy heading back to education. She brushed off the backlash and took to her Instagram Story with a video she filmed outside in the Spring sunshine and said: "It's USA uni time," alongside a grinning face with sweat.
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