A family friend of Madelaine McCann’s parents has slammed Sharon Osbourne for her recent comments about their daughter’s kidnapping.
Speaking on her U.S. chat show The Talk, former X Factor judge Sharon claimed that it was ‘insane’ that Kate and Gerry left their 3-year-old daughter Maddie alone while they were on holiday, leading to her kidnapping.
Sharon brought up the famous case while discussing the topic of whether parents should leave children alone and without supervision.
She said:
I will tell you a very quick story. There was a husband and wife on holiday in Portugal. They left their baby in the room sleeping, sleeping while they went to dinner in the restaurant.
While they were in the resort their baby was taken. And it is like, ‘Oh but we can see everything that is going on’ and it is, like, insane.
A friend of the McCann family spoke to The Mirror after the show was broadcast and claimed Sharon’s remarks were ‘ignorant’ and ‘ill-informed’.
They said:
She should think about the effect it could have on Madeleine’s brother and sister, as well as the wider family. Kate and Gerry have never forgiven themselves and this should not have been aired in a random way, as it apparently was.
It’s based on ignorance of the true facts. While she’s entitled to her view she should keep it to herself.
However, many Twitter users have leapt to Sharon’s defence, agreeing with her comments:
Sharon Osbourne is right if they`d been parents from a council estate & not docs they`d have been universally condemned & kids taken in care
— Julie Webster (@leedsju) May 22, 2016
I totally agree with Sharon Osbourne. I'm amazed the McCann's weren't arrested.
— Andy_avfc (@Andy__avfc) May 22, 2016
Sharon Osbourne is right. That hotel had a child minding service. The McCann's drinks would have cost more than paying for childcare
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) May 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/AlexP_Music/status/734349022467661825
3 children left alone. In a foreign country. So their parents could go out for a meal. Sharon Osbourne is right, insane is the perfect word.
— lauren (@FletcherLauren) May 22, 2016
Sharon Osbourne is not 'ignorant' or 'ill informed'. In the UK, you would be arrested for leaving toddlers and babies home alone #McCanns
— Francesca (@fransbeautyblog) May 22, 2016
If Twitter is anything to go by then the only people who are actual angry at Sharon Osbourne for calling the McCanns insane are The McCanns
— krull1981 (@krull1981) May 22, 2016
Maddie was snatched from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, days before her fourth birthday and has never been found.