This Morning kicked off Tuesday’s show by interviewing the student whose tweet about a ‘cheating Ben on a train’ went viral.
Bournemouth University student Emily Shepherd has sparked a nationwide hunt for the mysterious Ben after she posted on social media about a conversation she’d overheard a group of men having.
She tweeted: “If anyone has a boyfriend called Ben on the Bournemouth-Manchester train, he’s just told his friends he’s cheating on you. Dump his [bleep].”
As well as sparking a hunt for Ben, it’s opened a debate about whether it’s ever appropriate to post other people’s private conversations to social media.
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Emily spoke to Holly & Phil via video link this morning to explain what happened.
“There was a group of lads on the train, drinking and swearing, being really loud. They were going through Facebook profile pictures of girls online. One said, ‘I’d have her’. He said, ‘I already have’. It was disgusting and led me to Twitter.”
When asked how she knew Ben had a girlfriend, Emily said: “Because his friend said, ‘What about your girlfriend?’ He said, ‘She doesn’t need to know’ and that’s why they all laughed.”
Holly responded: “I can see why you think that’s bad.”
Phillip, however, broached the subject of whether it was right to put a group’s private conversation – even if they said it on a public train – on social media.
“It was crazy, I never expected this,” said Emily. “When I tweeted this it was supposed to be a light-hearted sort of thing. Even though the context was true and in that sense it wasn’t light-hearted. I don’t know what to say. I’m so amazed at everything and completely shocked.”
As for whether Ben will ever be found, Emily said: “It’s day three now and he must know the nation is on the hunt for him. I don’t think he will be found but I’ve had so many messages asking me, ‘Is this him? What does he look like? Do you have a picture?'”
Emily said she has no sympathy for Ben. “The way he was bragging about it and shouting on a train carriage. If you had respect for your girlfriend you wouldn’t have cheated on her, let alone bragged on a train where everybody can hear.”
After Emily rang off, Holly and Phil spoke about her story – and both seemed a bit unsure how they felt.
Phillip said: “Although I get what Emily says, his behaviour was appalling and he wasn’t being good on the train, I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to call someone out if you don’t know the circumstances.”
Holly simply said: “It’s a tough lesson he’s learned that day.”
They then urged Ben to phone into This Morning if he was watching and give his side of the story.
The whole segment completely divided viewers.
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Many were totally against Emily’s decision to tweet the chat, suggesting Ben could have been bragging untruthfully to his mates or he could have hooked up with the mystery girl in the past.
They also felt private conversations shouldn’t be posted online without consent, while some worried about Ben’s safety if he’s ever publicly identified.
Others, however, felt Emily was right to expose Ben if he had been cheating.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV.