Carl Fogarty Faces Backlash After Saying Ant McPartlin Needs To ‘Man Up’

'He needs help, not lambasting.'
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Former ‘I’m A Celebrity’ winner Carl Fogarty is facing a backlash over comments he made about Ant McPartlin’s drink-driving arrest and subsequent return to treatment.

The motor racing champ, who won ‘I’m A Celebrity’ in 2014, angered fans after saying Ant should “man up”, accusing him of “running off to rehab every five minutes when something goes wrong”.

In an interview with the Daily Star, Carl said: “He’s got everybody running around after him going: ‘Oh, it’s a shame for him.’ Hang on a minute - grow up, sort yourself out and take responsibility.”

Ant and Dec with Carl Fogarty in 2014
Ant and Dec with Carl Fogarty in 2014
Rex/Shutterstock/ITV

He continued: “Don’t go running off to rehab every five minutes when something goes wrong.

“He got in a car pissedd – don’t do that, it’s not right.

“You don’t need to go to rehab to be told to sort that out, you know that’s wrong and you shouldn’t be doing that. He needs telling straight, he needs to sort himself out and man up.”

Many called Carl out for perpetuating stigma around mental health and addiction issues with his language, particularly his use of the phrase “man up”.

Drink driving stupidity aside, I see Carl Fogarty is using the toxic "man up" command to Ant McPartlin & his mental health issues. Straight from the P*ers Mor*gan school of masculinity. Arsehole.

— Garry McConnachie (@TheGMcConnachie) April 20, 2018

Just lost a whole lot of respect for Carl Fogarty. Yes drinking and driving is bad and against the law but the bloke has got mental health issues and maybe borderline alcoholism. I'm a recovering alcoholic and did many bad things whilst drinking. He needs help not lambasting.

— Steve Hancox (@StevenHancox) April 20, 2018

Carl Fogarty is the reason that men don’t talk about their mental health problems, mental health is no joke, telling Ant Mcpartlin to ‘man up’ is disgusting, I thought better of him.

— All Ant and Dec (@allantanddec) April 20, 2018

It’s this attitude that contributes to the 84 male suicides each week in the uk. @carlfogarty should be ashamed

— Nik renard (@NikRobinson) April 20, 2018

@carlfogarty yet again running his mouth showing insane levels of ignorance. @antanddec issue isnt just over one situation, its been life threatening for years and could have been in the crash, so Carl grow some balls,gain some knowledge, its not a fucking lads locker room

— Mathew Lisett (@Mathew30) April 20, 2018

Mr @carlfogarty here has a rant about @antanddec and says man up! “Man up” that’s like telling someone suffering from depression to cheer up, telling someone whose struggling with weight issues to stop eating! If you’ve no real support to offer 1/2

— Alan (@Rudeboy2o09) April 20, 2018

What makes @carlfogarty an expert ? He doesn’t know what goes on behind closed doors.
Maybe Ant needs rehab.
He’s manned up and realised he has a problem and needs help.
People cope in different ways. https://t.co/ACyEw1assE

— Paul Curry (@Paulc2nd) April 20, 2018

@carlfogarty i hope for your sake you never suffer from mental health issues and addiction!!! Cos it aint bloody nice! Im one of them and i wont be told to grow up.

— Lisa Bailey (@lisa01403) April 20, 2018

God I can’t stand men like Carl Fogarty “rehab isn’t the answer to his problems he got in a car pissed you just shouldn’t do that”. Well if he has a bloody drinking problem that’s how you solve it dumbass https://t.co/tBc48Goumr

— Rosie Morris (@RosieRem_x) April 20, 2018

@carlfogarty God forbid you or someone you love ever suffers from a mental illness with your ridiculous 'Man up' attitude 🙄that's what's already wrong with society, expecting men not to show their emotions! #foolish

— Rae Midd (@rantingraemondo) April 20, 2018

Earlier this week, Ant was fined £86,000 and received a 20-month driving ban, after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

Following the sentencing, Ant told reporters outside court he is “truly sorry for what happened”.

“Higher standards are expected of me. I let myself down, I let a lot of people down, for that I’m truly sorry,” he said.

“I’d like to apologise to everyone involved in the crash and I’m just thankful no-one was seriously hurt.”

Prior to the hearing, Ant stepped down from all TV commitments for the foreseeable future and returned to treatment, having spent time in rehab last year for an addiction to painkillers.

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