Tommy Tiernan faced criticism on Saturday night following the first segment of his weekly RTE chat show.
The popular host often receives plaudits for the curiosity and open-mindedness with which he conducts interviews but many viewers felt that Tommy failed to show the proper respect to WWE superstar Becky Lynch, real name Rebecca Quinn, when she joined the stand-up comedian on the RTE programme.
Tommy appeared somewhat dismissive of professional wrestling and its fans as he quizzed Becky on the industry and the craft, which she explained as "the art of telling a story and bringing the audience on this emotional journey."
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"It's not really though," Tommy responded. "It isn't! I can understand how the commitment from the inside has to be total and the approach has to be thorough and skilled to be able to survive in it but the high-end stuff that we see on television seems very obvious... There's no nuance to it."
Groans could also be heard in the audience when Tommy opened his interview by asking his guest, "It's not really a competition, is it?" Becky didn't seem put out by the host's line of questioning as she broke down the ins-and-outs of her work and laughed off Tommy's comments, even when he took a not-so-veiled dig at wrestling fans.
"I sometimes look at the audience in that stuff and think they're not smart," Tommy said, adding "they just seem like eejits. Grown men shouting, you wouldn't get it at the Gaiety panto."
Viewers flocked to social media to voice their disapproval of the way that the interview played out, with many branding the host rude.
"Tommy Tiernan having a nightmare here," one viewer tweeted. "So rude to @BeckyLynchWWE, a good interviewer can interview any one about anything. He is trying to cover up his lack of knowledge with rudeness. Late Late show would be out of his depth."
Another wrote: "This is absolutely unprofessional and rude of him. She's a big deal in every aspect!"
"Unprofessional and flat out rude. She deserved more respect," a third added, while another said that "this Tommy is being a bit condescending to Becky. She’s an absolute legend, at the top of her game, AND she’s Irish."
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