Made In Chelsea stars Melissa Tattam and Ruby Adler have sparked a huge public backlash after a deleted clip from their podcast showed the pair mocking women who play netball after work.
The reality television personalities were branded "mean girls" by viewers after poking fun at women who choose to spend their spare time playing the sport.
The controversial footage was originally published on the Instagram account for the Wednesdays podcast, which Tattam and Adler took over hosting in July following the departure of former host Sophie Habboo.
In the deleted video, Tattam questioned why adult women continue playing netball after leaving school. "So my girlfriends all sign up to play f*****g netball after work and I'm like: 'We literally don't have to do that anymore,'" Tattam said. "We left school ten years ago. You don't have to do that anymore."
Adler suggested that participants were seeking a sense of belonging, saying: "I think it is being part of some form of community and like feeling you are part of something because there are some girls who go to the gym I go to who are part of a netball club."
Tattam laughed, rolled her eyes, and responded: "No, I can't cope. I can't."
Adler went on to describe invitations she had received to join matches. "They are like do you want to come? I'm like: 'I don't think you could pay me enough to come like I don't want to come, I don't want to do it at school and I don't want to do it now,'" Adler said. "We have all got free will and we are using it that way to go and play netball?"
Tattam compared the sport to other recreational activities while expressing her confusion. "It is so bizarre to me as well but people love it. It is like men playing golf," Tattam said. "A lot of my girlfriends' friends play football after work, play hockey after work, play golf on the weekends and then the girlies go off to play netball in the winter."
She added: "It is freezing cold firstly you've got to trek yourself to Battersea then you have got to play matches on the weekend and clearly they love it and I'm like I wish I could relate to that in some way. I think there are definitely two types of people in this world: people that were on the A and B teams at school and they have carried on that passion into their twenties and thirties. Then there are people like me and you who just don't like it and we're just not sporty girls."
Adler agreed, describing her reluctance to play goal attack on weekday evenings. "I can't imagine trekking to Battersea on Tuesday night to play goal attack, like, I couldn't do it," Adler said. "There are so many other things like I would just want to go to the pub."
Made In Chelsea is a popular British reality television series following the lives of affluent young people in West London. Battersea, situated in South West London along the River Thames, hosts popular amateur sports leagues at its local parks and leisure centers.
Social media reaction and TikTok response
The Instagram clip was quickly taken down following a wave of angry comments from podcast listeners who accused the pair of displaying toxic behavior.
Critics expressed disappointment in the comment section. One listener wrote: "It's sad when women still give mean girl energy at this age." Another commenter posted: "It's giving P.E. and in a weird cliquey way." A third stated: "Imagine being a woman, taking the p**s out of another woman and claiming to be a girl's girl." A fourth comment echoed the first, stating: "It's sad when women still give mean girl energy at this age."
Representatives for Melissa Tattam and Ruby Adler were contacted by the Daily Mail for comment regarding the reaction.
Despite the criticism, Tattam and Adler appeared to make light of the online backlash. Tattam's boyfriend Toby Watkins shared a video on TikTok featuring Tattam sitting next to him, which he captioned: "Suggested netball for our second date, reckon she's down?"
Adler commented on Watkins's TikTok post: "I'm dying."
Sophie Habboo departure from Wednesdays podcast
Tattam and Adler were revealed as permanent co-hosts of the Wednesdays podcast in July after longtime pal Sophie Habboo announced she was stepping down to prioritize spending time with her son Ziggy.
Habboo, who shares Ziggy with her husband Jamie Laing after giving birth in December, broke down in tears on the podcast as she explained her decision to balance motherhood and career opportunities.
Addressing her listeners during her final recording, Habboo said: "This is actually going to be my last episode. I love you guys so much, and I've had the best time, and I'm so grateful for all your support, and honestly I feel like we have just got the best community."
She continued: "I look back at all of the episodes and all the fun we've had and the dilemmas, and you've literally grown up with both Melissa and I, and I couldn't be more grateful, that you've come back every single week. You've spread the word, you've helped us grow this podcast, and we've just got the best community. You're the loveliest girls and boys, and I couldn't love you more and you've really helped me grow as a person and I'm going to miss this so much."
Habboo explained that becoming a mother changed her priorities: "But as you know, I've obviously become a Mum, and I've realised that I just need to prioritise my son and just spend as much time as I can with him. I just feel it's the right time for me to step away. But the podcast isn't going anywhere."
Habboo stated that she planned to return as a guest "all the time" while handing over the baton to Adler to join Tattam as permanent co-host.
Paying tribute to Tattam, Habboo said: "I'm so glad we met on MIC six years ago, and just, you're the bestest friend ever and thank you so much for doing this with me, and thank you for carrying the podcast, doing it with me. I've had the best time ever."
Habboo also confirmed her departure in a post shared on Instagram: "This is hard to write, hosting Wednesdays as my first ever podcast has been truly the best experience. I got to host with my best friend and the best team ever and for that I am forever grateful!!! It's helped me grow as a person, in so many ways I can't explain."
Habboo reflected on her eight months as a mother, writing: "Since having my son Ziggy eight months ago I've had to balance being the best mum I can be and all my opportunities that I feel so grateful to have. Sadly this means stepping away from Wednesdays, whilst I am sad to be leaving as a co-host I know I am leaving the podcast in the best hands ever with Melissa and Ruby (our true OG tiny aka Tiny Tim)."
Habboo concluded her message by thanking her listeners: "I love Wednesdays and all of you listeners so much, thank you for your endless support and love! I cannot wait to watch the show continue to thrive and grow in the best hands! Thank you truly from the bottom of my heart for making this show so unbelievably special."
