Jamelia sorry for big women comment

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 said 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.

“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 en masse,” 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 34-year-old former 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. I believe we are all entitled to our opinion.

“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 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.

“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.”

Viewers criticised her comments on Twitter.

Josie Lawson wrote: “Lost all respect for Jamelia after her comments about plus-size clothing. Not all people who are a ‘plus size’ live an unhealthy lifestyle.”

Katie Angharad Jones wrote: “Used to love Jamelia but after today’s Loose Women I’ve lost all respect! There’s enough pressure to be a size eight as it is!”