News

Kirstie Allsopp deletes Twitter after criticism over smashing kids’ iPads

She smashed the devices after her children broke her rules

Kirstie Allsopp appears to have deactivated her Twitter account after coming under fire for revealing she had smashed her children’s iPads after they broke her rules about screen time use.

The 47-year-old’s social media account, which she was actively using on Monday, can no longer be found on Twitter.

The TV star, who is mother to sons Oscar Hercules and Bay Atlas with partner Ben Andersen, said she went to extreme lengths when they were playing games outside their permitted time.

Kirstie Allsopp interview
Kirstie Allsopp appears to no longer have an active Twitter account (Credit: PA)

She told Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine: “This is the first time I’ve said this publicly. In June I smashed my kids’ iPads, not in a violent way. I actually banged them on the table leg.”

Read more: Kirstie Allsopp will leave fortune to kids but wants them to get jobs

The Location, Location, Location presenter faced a barrage of criticism on social media following her remarks.

In July 2017 she took a short break from Twitter after comments she made about washing machines belonging outside the kitchen caused a similar uproar.

Kirstie  also previously made headlines when she spoke about travelling in business class, while her children travelled in economy class.

Kirstie Allsopp
Kirstie appeared on Jeremy Vine on Monday (Credit: Channel 5)

Speaking on Jeremy Vine, Kirstie had explained: “There is a game called Fortnite and another PUBG and I decided… we had made all sorts of rules and all sorts of times when we said you can’t play them and all those rules got broken and in the end I said ‘Right that is it, I have to physically (break them).'”

Asked to show how she did it, Kirstie replied: “It was remarkably easy. I didn’t intend to speak about it but it’s come up now.”

Storm Huntley, who appears on the show alongside Jeremy, praised Kirstie’s actions saying: “I like that, that is my kind of parenting.”

Viewers, however, were divided over Kirstie’s actions.

Some agreed with Storm that it was a good idea, with one saying: “Good parenting, I love it!”

Another wrote: “Good for you Kirstie, bloody devices are the bane of my life! I’m the “meanest mummy in Mean Town” according to my 8 yo son. Our devices “disappeared” one night and haven’t been seen since.

Others, however, suggested Kirstie could have tried an alternative to smashing expensive technology, such as switching off the Wi-Fi or simply taking them away.

One said, “Very disappointed in Kirstie here. Destroying very expensive iPads !!! Shame on you.Could have donated them to children less fortunate.”

Another wrote: “That’s all very well if you have plenty of money and didn’t have to save up for them in the first place. Simply remove the tablets from the children. Don’t teach them to mistreat expensive items.”

Earlier this year, Location, Location, Location star Kirstie told Prima magazine she’ll leave her multi-million pound fortune to her children but hopes they’ll still choose to get jobs and work for themselves.

Read more: Lucy Mecklenburgh says it’s time to leave Roxanne Pallett alone

Kirstie said she and Ben had been “fortunate enough to make a considerable amount of money”.

She said the money will pass to their children but she’d be “horrified” if they didn’t choose to make their own way in life as well.

Would you smash your children’s iPads if they broke your rules? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!