This Morning: ‘fuming’ viewers criticise show for giving ‘trophy hunter’ air time

Michaela Fialova, from the Czech Republic, was invited on the ITV show to speak to Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes about hunting animals
Phillip Schofield spoke sarcastically when asking Michaela about her job as an animal conservationist on This Morning (ITV)Phillip Schofield spoke sarcastically when asking Michaela about her job as an animal conservationist on This Morning (ITV)
Phillip Schofield spoke sarcastically when asking Michaela about her job as an animal conservationist on This Morning (ITV)

This Morning has been criticised by viewers after inviting a “trophy hunter” on-air to discuss killing wild animals.

Michaela Fialova, an animal conservationist who has been killing animals since she was 13 years old, joined hosts Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes on the popular morning show via video link.

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The young woman, from the Czech Republic, was confident about talking about hunting animals on live television, and claimed it is vital that she kills them to prevent overpopulation.

Phillip began the virtual interview by saying in a sarcastic tone: "What came first, the conservation or the killing?"

"The purpose of the hunters is for me to manage the population," she responded.

"Always you need to manage the population. Every place has a limited source of how many animals can live there, and everything else must be taken out, it’s the same everywhere in the world.”

‘No reason to give her air time’

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But “fuming” viewers were not happy that Michaela had been invited to speak on the daytime show and many took to social media to voice their outrage at This Morning.

One Twitter user wrote: "Can’t believe what this woman is saying! Get her off NOW!”

While another said: "There is literally no reason to give this woman air time.”

One person claimed that the ITV show would have “lots of complaints” for approving the animal hunter to appear on-screen.

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And someone else posted: “I am FUMING at this trophy hunter on This Morning!”

Another social media user said Michaela was “only interested in raising her profile” instead of the interests of the animals or the planet.

But some viewers praised Phillip for the way he handled the interview.

At one point, he said to Michaela: “Thank goodness you’re there to kill them all!"

He also adopted a cheeky tone when asking her: "You’re playing God with your rifle?"