Jamelia has apologised after sparking controversy by saying that shops should not stock clothes for bigger women, but insisted that she stands by her remarks.
The Loose Women panellist, 34, said that she was 'hounded on Twitter' after airing her views on the ITV show, in a discussion about overweight teenagers.
Now she has told Good Morning Britain that she was sorry for upsetting people.
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
“I didn’t make it clear on the show that I was talking about extremes, I was talking about above size 20 and below size six, those sizes being available on mass,” she said.
“Knowing that I offended people really upset me. Knowing that I made people question themselves and their choices, it really did upset me. All I can do is apologise for that.”
But the singer added: “I do stand by what I said… I’m a real woman with real opinions. I get paid to voice my opinions.”
She said of the reaction: “It’s been absolutely awful, but this is my job,” and added: “I believe we are all entitled to our opinion.”
"Never waste your time trying to explain, to people committed to misunderstanding you"
— #Яebel (@Jamelia) April 21, 2015
“I genuinely love people and believe everyone has the right to feel wonderful and feel beautiful and it was never my intention to make people feel any less than what they are.”
Jamelia had told Loose Women: “I do not think it’s right to facilitate people living an unhealthy lifestyle… In the same way (that) I don’t believe that a size zero should be available, it’s not a healthy size for an average woman to be.”
She added: “I don’t believe they (High Street stores) should be providing clothes for below that range or above that range.
“Yes, have specialist shops but you should feel uncomfortable if you are unhealthy… to be available in every High Street store, I don’t think that’s right.”
Take a selfie like @Jamelia and join in our #SelfieEsteem campaign – details at http://t.co/gBEuH6LVKi https://t.co/vwWKRKIm82
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 17, 2015
Unfortunately for Jamelia, the comments came after she had been supporting Good Morning Britain’s #SelfieEsteem campaign.
Viewers criticised her comments on Twitter.
Lost all respect for Jamelia after her comments about plus size clothing. Not all people who are a "plus size" live an unhealthy lifestyle.
— Josie Lawson (@VivDFeatures) April 21, 2015
Used to love #jamelia but after today's @loosewomen I've lost all respect! There's enough pressure to be a size 8 as it is! #disgusting
— Katie Angharad Jones (@AngharadKatie) April 21, 2015
