Phillip Schofield, former co-host of This Morning, has sparked fresh conversations about double standards in the media, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+ public figures. Speaking in a recent Channel 5 documentary, Cast Away, Schofield suggested that the backlash to his affair with a younger male colleague was intensified because of his sexual orientation. The affair, which led to his departure from ITV, has been a subject of public scrutiny ever since it was revealed 16 months ago.
Schofield admitted that his actions were “unwise but not illegal,” but he believes that had the situation involved a heterosexual relationship, the public response would have been less severe. “Strangely, I think another TV presenter or two might have done exactly the same thing. Difference is, they’re heterosexual,” Schofield remarked. His comments have ignited a debate about whether gay celebrities face harsher criticism for their personal lives, and whether the age gap in LGBTQ+ relationships invites more judgment than in straight relationships.
The former broadcaster also addressed the common perception in the media and society that larger age gaps in gay relationships are often viewed with suspicion or as inappropriate. Schofield drew a parallel with heterosexual relationships, suggesting that if his affair had involved a younger woman instead of a man, the public might have reacted with approval. “That’s not an unusual thing in the gay world,” he noted, adding, “But if that had been the case with me, and it had been a woman: pat on the back, ‘Well done, mate’.”
Schofield’s case raises a larger issue about how LGBTQ+ people are often subjected to double standards, especially in high-profile industries like entertainment. His coming out in 2020 was met with both praise and criticism, but the fallout from his affair seems to have intensified due to his sexuality. For the LGBTQ+ community, this serves as a reminder of the challenges many still face in achieving equality, even when societal acceptance seems to be increasing.
