On February 4, *Loose Women* panellist Janet Street Porter found herself at the centre of a heated social media backlash after making controversial remarks about mammograms.
The veteran TV personality, known for her outspoken opinions, caused outrage
when she shared her personal experience of undergoing the procedure, which is widely used for breast cancer detection.
While discussing the advancement of new artificial intelligence technology designed to aid in breast cancer diagnosis,
Street Porter used the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction with the mammogram process, which many felt was an irresponsible take.
During the show, Christine Lampard, the chair of the panel, mentioned the exciting development of AI in healthcare, which is hoped to revolutionize breast cancer diagnosis by making it more accurate and accessible.
Janet, however, seemed less enthusiastic about the traditional method of mammograms. She began by offering her own perspective, calling for a more modern approach. Janet went on to make comments that were perceived by many as dismissive of the mammogram procedure, which has been a cornerstone of breast cancer screening for decades.
In a moment that garnered immediate attention, Janet claimed: “Mammograms were designed by men, sadistic men. Any woman with a small chest is going to be squashed in that machine, and it is going to be excruciating.” She also raised concerns about the accessibility of the machines, stating that for some women, the physical setup of the machine was not user-friendly. Street Porter added that many mammogram results led to further tests, such as ultrasound scans, due to the inability of the initial procedure to provide conclusive results in all cases.
Her words quickly sparked outrage among viewers of *Loose Women*. While her comments may have been intended to highlight the discomfort some women experience during a mammogram, they were seen as overly harsh and dismissive of a vital screening tool that has saved countless lives by detecting breast cancer in its early stages. The response from fans was swift, with many taking to social media to express their anger and frustration.
One viewer took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their disappointment: “#loosewomen Does Street-Porter not like men? Can you imagine a man saying something similar about women? Of course, you can’t – that would be declared as misogyny! But it’s okay for a woman to be derogatory about men!” This tweet reflected the broader sense of unease that many felt about Janet’s remarks, which seemed to place blame on men for the design of the mammogram machine.
Another viewer shared their thoughts, writing: “Now, if a man had just told Janet’s story, there would have been a boooo rather than a woooo! #loosewomen.” This comment implied that if the situation were reversed and a man had made similar comments about a woman’s experience, it would have been met with significant backlash.
Perhaps the most striking reaction came from those who felt that Janet’s description of a mammogram as “excruciating” was irresponsible. One critic posted, “Fgs Janet, a mammogram isn’t ‘excruciating’, choose your words better, so irresponsible… #loosewomen.” While mammograms can certainly be uncomfortable, many viewers believed that using such a strong word could deter women from getting screened altogether, which could have serious consequences for public health.
Janet’s comments were also met with frustration from those who questioned her underlying message. One social media user wrote: “So it was a man that designed the mammogram machine, but Janet’s annoyed he didn’t make it painless, what a bloody stupid thing to say. And by the way, it isn’t excruciating, another irresponsible comment that might put women off of having a mammogram, shut up Janet.”
These reactions reveal the complexity of the issue, with viewers divided over Street Porter’s comments. While some agree with her assessment of the discomfort associated with mammograms, many felt that the language she used was damaging, particularly given the importance of regular breast cancer screenings. Mammograms remain an essential tool in the fight against breast cancer, and experts continue to stress the importance of early detection.
While Janet Street Porter’s comments may have been well-meaning in an attempt to advocate for more comfortable and modern healthcare practices, they undoubtedly caused significant controversy. Fans of the show are left to debate the balance between honest discussion of medical procedures and the potential consequences of using inflammatory language when addressing such sensitive topics. As for Street Porter, it’s clear her words have sparked a conversation that will likely continue in the days to come.
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