Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have removed a promotional video for their new podcast after facing criticism from fans who said the imagery was insensitive and triggering.
The presenting duo shared a short video on social media to promote their upcoming podcast, Hanging Out With Ant and Dec. The clip opened with a shot showing shoes and trouser legs dangling above the ground, which several viewers said resembled suicide imagery.
The post, shared with their combined following of nearly six million, was uploaded on Friday evening but had been removed by Saturday morning following widespread backlash. Critics described the imagery as being in poor taste and distressing, particularly for people affected by suicide or self-harm.
Representatives for the presenters said the clip was not intended to cause offence and confirmed it had been deleted after feedback was taken into account. They said the pair were sorry if the video had upset anyone.
The reaction was particularly strong given Ant and Dec’s previous involvement in mental health awareness campaigns, including ITV’s Britain Get Talking initiative.
Mental health advocate and former The X Factor contestant Katie Waissel publicly criticised the video, describing the imagery as harmful and foreseeable. She said the visual immediately suggested hanging and could not be dismissed as a harmless play on words.
Waissel said that with such a large platform, the presenters had a responsibility to consider the real-world impact of their content, adding that promotional material should not risk causing distress to people affected by suicide or self-harm.
Fans also shared personal experiences in response to the clip, with several saying the imagery was upsetting due to losing loved ones to suicide.