The family of murdered teenager Sophie Lancaster have spoken out after Loose Women was hit with a string of Ofcom complaints.
The broadcasting watchdog revealed earlier this month that they received over 60 reports in response to the presenter's reaction to a picture of a 'goth baby's' nursery.
During the segment on Loose Women, Kaye Adams, Katie Piper, Judi Love and Nadia Swahala discussed if parents should impose their lifestyle choices on their children.
The debate was sparked after one mother turned her entire home into the real life Addams Family following the release of Netflix's new show Wednesday and has now resulted in 66 complaints to Ofcom.
After watching the clip, Katie could be heard gasping before saying: "I don't like that interior."
She continued: "It's all black and dark. Babies don't like that. I'm just going to put it out there it's giving me satanic vibes, it's giving me bad energy, it's toxic, I don't like it and also it's a baby. The cots are tomb. You can't put your baby in a grave."
Following the Ofcom complaints, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation has spoken out on the Loose Women segment.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Sophie's family penned: "Thanks for your comments and for tagging us in your messages about ITV’s Loose Women. The discussion was about bringing up children in the Gothic style home it featured. One of the panel talked about ‘satanic vibes, bad energy’ and used the word ‘toxic’.
"One of the things we say at the start of every education session, is that ‘this is a safe space.’ We encourage discussion about alternative subcultures and the issues and misunderstandings that cause such negativity and prejudice to be directed at people in these communities.
"By talking and sharing our story we have a real opportunity to change mindset or at least promote a different perspective."
The post went on: "Freedom of speech and personal choice mean that we all have different views and different tastes.
"As a charity that promotes celebrating difference we think there’s enough room for us all in this world. But people on TV have a real responsibility. Why use their platform to reiterate the tired old stereotypes and negativity that do such harm?
"By all means, say that something is not to your taste – but satanic and toxic? That is nothing but judgement. Surely we have a responsibility to do better than that?
"We know all too well that judgement and intolerance lead to bullying, prejudice and violence. Attitudes like these also encourage the narrative that alternative people are complicit when they suffer at someone else’s hands, for somehow bringing this negativity on themselves.
"It’s a New Year. Let’s start as we mean to go on. Let’s stop judging people and communities from the outside, when we know nothing about them.
"Any time any of the panel want to come to a festival or event with us and meet our brilliant, positive, creative and generous community, we’d be delighted to welcome them."
Underneath the lengthy post, followers of Sophie's foundation further hit out at Loose Women and Katie Piper for their 'insensitive' comments.
"I really do not understand how someone like Katie Piper that's faced judgement on her appearance daily because of an acid attack and has faced prejudice for her appearance, has ANY right to sit on national TV and turn her nose up at any unconventional style and mock them outright. Sort it out," one unimpressed viewer wrote.
"Its warped, misinformed, prejudiced, ignorant views like this that are literally why the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation has to exist in the first place.
"Because yes, Sophie Lancaster was murdered just because she was a goth. The thugs that murdered her thought she was less than and didn't think she deserved to live, BECAUSE SHE WAS A GOTH and THEY HATED GOTHS.
"When they could have JUST simply minded their own damn business, live and let live and moved on, they chose to cut her life short instead because of their own hang ups. Sorry but this has me absolutely SEETHING," the social media user added.
The murder of Sophie Lancaster occurred in England in August 2007.
The victim and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, were attacked by a group of teenage boys while walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire, on 11 August 2007.
The gang attacked Sophie’s boyfriend first and then turned on her, carrying out a brutal and sustained attack.
Sophie remained in hospital for 13 days, before following medical advice, the family agreed to life support being switched off.
She died on 24 August 2007; she was just 20 years old.
Sophie’s mother, Sylvia, said that she had seen at first-hand the abuse and prejudice her daughter had previously been subjected to - all because of how she dressed.
