Davina McCall prompts backlash by criticising ‘fear-mongering’ amid Sarah Everard case

TV personality Davina McCall has been criticised online for saying the level of “fear-mongering” following ongoing anger over the case concerning Sarah Everard “isn’t healthy”.

A passionate discussion around women’s safety was sparked online after it was confirmed that “human remains” had been found in the search for the missing 33-year-old.

In a post on Twitter on Friday, the former Big Brother host wrote: “Female abduction / murder is extremely rare. Yes we should all be vigilant when out alone. But this level of fear-mongering isn’t healthy. 

“And men’s mental health is an issue as well. Calling all men out as dangerous is bad for our sons, brothers, partners.”

Users were quick to respond to McCall’s remarks, describing it as a “bad take” and “insensitive”:

McCall soon went on to defend her initial tweet, as individuals continued to challenge her position:

“I wouldn’t walk home alone in the dark. And lots of men I know wouldn’t either ... because there are some (very few relatively) bad people out there.

“But your response is [to] say you view all men as a danger and I don’t think we should be spreading that message,” she told one user.

In response to another account, she added: “Men hesitate walking home in the dark too.

“And why should they? Because there are bad people out there.

“We should all be vigilant and as parents raise good adults.”

McCall’s comments also come after Labour MP Jess Phillips listed the names of all cisgender women killed by men in the past year, during Parliamentary debate on International Women’s Day.

Almost 120 people were named, in a speech which lasted more than four minutes.

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