Kirstie Allsopp sparks debate with divisive parenting choice
The twee TV presenter said she flies separately from her kids
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CELEBRITY Kirstie allsopp
The presenter of 'Location, Location, Location' has caused a heated debate on Twitter after revealing she flies business class, while her two children sit in economy.
Allsopp told The Sun that she and her partner regularly take premium seats while their sons Bay, 12, and Oscar, 10, are booked in standard class. The Channel 4 presenter is the daughter of Charles Henry Allsopp, the sixth Baron Hindlip, and is estimated to earn £500,000 a year. The newspaper reports that she said, “If I’m going to spend money, it’s on the holiday itself rather than the flights. When we fly as a family, the boys do fly separately from Ben and me if we’re not in economy together."
But the property show presenter is irked by the criticism her choice received. "Now every idiotic rag has gone with 'she's in Club kids in the back.' Totally pathetic..." she tweeted.Social media is divided on the issue, with some users saying that the choice makes "other passengers or crew" responsible for Allsopp's kids, telling the media personality to "just admit you don’t want to sit with them", and even calling her a bad parent.I received an email from The Sun, to which I sent a polite reply, as I always try to do. Now every idiotic rag has gone with “she’s in Club kids in the back”. Totally pathetic, the next journalist who calls/emails me is going to get a piece of my mind. pic.twitter.com/kS0J720w0l
— Kirstie Mary Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) 3 June 2018
Are other passengers or crew expected to look after your children I’m sure they’re good kids but even good ones misbehave
— Sarah Faherty (@MadJag) 3 June 2018
Your attempted justification for travelling apart from your kids is a tad contrived, IMO, why not just admit you don’t want to sit with them. That’ll be nice for them to read.
— Heather (@heatherintedd) 4 June 2018
#appaling If you want to save money because ‘you go on a shed load of holidays’ you & your husband should be flying economy too! Save the premium seating for when it’s just you & your him. All your teaching your children is that you value yourself more than them. #badparenting
— Claire C RileyAuthor (@ClaireCRiley) 4 June 2018
But others argued that the home makeover expert was entitled to do as she pleases, saying "I don't see the problem" and arguing that buying premium seats for kids is a waste of money.
I don’t see the problem. The kids get freedom, a sense of responsibility, and the luxury of not being in range of Mum’s eagle eye, while being safe and catered to. Mum gets to relax and pampered to.
— splorer (@tredjen) 3 June 2018
Because the extra cost would be wasted on them, because they are old enough, responsible enough and well-behaved enough to cope on their own for a few hours, because they'd enjoy the extra sense of adventure, because you are 30 sec away if needed...
— Pete Moore (@RedPete07) 3 June 2018
Allsopp eventually tweeted "They're being taken on holiday for God's sake, they're not being sent to war!!!"
“Forcing” what the bloody hell is wrong with you all?! They’re being taken on holiday for God’s sake, they’re not being sent to war!!! pic.twitter.com/hiQBpIsyH7
— Kirstie Mary Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) 3 June 2018