Viewers of This Morning have criticised Phillip Schofield for grilling a guest who quit her job to make Mukbang videos on YouTube.
If you didn’t know, online craze Mukbang – which originated in South Korea – sees people devour endless calories on camera for the pleasure of viewers.
Charna Rowley was attracted by the trend and now makes videos of herself eating delicious meals for thousands of subscribers.
Read more: Holly Willoughby ‘guilty’ of workplace romance as she defends her marriage to Dan Baldwin
Charna, 22, quit her job and now focuses her time in making content for her YouTube channel.
Appearing on the daytime show, Charna explained why she chooses to spend thousands on food for the videos as concerned hosts Holly Willoughby and Phil as well as Dr Zoe shared their thoughts.
Phil said: “You make a noise when you eat? There’s no way I would ever watch it because I cannot stand people who chew with their mouths open. Noisy eating drives me crazy.”
Charna said: “I think it’s a Marmite thing – you either love it or you don’t.”
Holly then asked: “How much do people love it? Some people say people love it as far as… it’s quite a sexual thing.”
Charna admitted: “Some people have asked if it’s a [sexual thing], but I’ve never got any comments insinuating it’s a sexual thing.
There’s no way I would ever watch it because I cannot stand people who chew with their mouths open.
“It’s more of a, ‘you make me so hungry, I really want to eat this food as well.'”
Phil asked: “There will be people watching [saying] isn’t this just a case of you’ll do anything to be famous?” to which Charna said: “No, it’s nothing like that. I just loved the production of it all and sitting down and recording videos and expressing myself.
“I feel like [for] a lot of young people, it’s really hard to get yourself out there and just be yourself.”
Phil asked: “But why be out there eating at all? Why does the world need this?”
Charna replied: “It wasn’t really for the world, it was for me,” to which Phil said: “It wasn’t really for you though was it? You did it because you saw other videos and there is no doubt that the most successful Mukbangers are earning £100K plus easily.”
Charna said: “Yeah they probably are but it was never about money for me.”
When asked if she thinks about the impact eating the high-calorie meals has on her health, Charna said: “Obviously yeah. I might order 5,000 calories worth of food but I would never eat it.
“I might one day if I’m really hungry but there’s been so many occasions when I’ve ordered this much food and ate less than half of it.”
Phil asked: “Have you put weight on whilst you’ve been doing it?” to which Charna said: “I don’t believe I have.”
Viewers listening to the interview were divided on Twitter, with some people not happy with Phil’s questioning.
One said: “People fat shaming this girl on #ThisMorning are horrible. Phil and Holly have a very condescending attitude and I’m shocked at how they’ve been speaking to this girl, you keep doing what you love.”
People fat shaming this girl on #ThisMorning are horrible. Phil and Holly have a very condescending attitude and I’m shocked at how they’ve been speaking to this girl 🙁 you keep doing what you love, Girl!
— Robsy (@Robynyourminds_) November 7, 2019
Another wrote: “Loving the #mukbang girl on #ThisMorning – but the doctor and @Schofe are being realty hard on her. Let her have her fun.”
A third sarcastically tweeted: “Phil Schofield criticising a mukbang girl for copying others in order to get famous and make money. Which is legitimate, as he was the first ever man to present a telly show in all of history.”
Loving the #mukbang girl on #ThisMorning – but the doctor and @Schofe are being realty hard on her. Let her have her fun. @thismorning
— Twiggy Wilts (@discobunny) November 7, 2019
Phil Schofield criticising a mukbang girl for copying others in order to get famous and make money. Which is legitimate, as he was the first ever man to present a telly show in all of history. #thismorning
— Agnes (@ThatAgnes) November 7, 2019
@thismorning listen, Mukbang girl! You do you. Do what you want. Can’t believe how patronising and negative these 3 are being! @hollywills @Schofe Dr Zoe
— Jaiden Micheal (@jaidenofficial) November 7, 2019
Read more: Trainee doctor paralysed as suicidal man landed on her as he jumped
Others expressed their concerns for Charna and criticised her decision.
It’s amazing how naive that girl is. Doesn’t batter an eyelid that she could get really ill. All for YouTube attention. #thismorning
— Sez Hardy (@coachsarah83) November 7, 2019
#ThisMorning Seriously this Mukbang girl has serious issues and something deeply missing from her life. This is just another ridiculous ideology of young people today.
— A Local (@alocal74) November 7, 2019
What a role model for young girls. When I grow up I want to film myself binge eating. #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/tQS5qYWAhn
— Chris 🌸 (@Poppyblew) November 7, 2019
Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story.