ITV's 'Kitchengate' controversy.
ITV faces strong backlash for 'demeaning' Emma Hayes kitchen set during World Cup.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
During the World Cup hydration breaks, England fans “loudly booed” the mandated stoppages even though the stadium was temperature-controlled to 22°C, and ITV filled that extra time by cutting to Hayes in their studio kitchen set.
2
ITV’s tournament pundit panel is described as 11 people strong, with Hayes one of only two women on it (along with 2025 Strictly Come Dancing winner Karen Carney).
3
Presenter Cristo Foufas amplified the criticism on X with a pointed question about whether the broadcast was “massively advancing the idea of women’s equality in football” by staging Hayes “from a set which looks like she’s stuck in a kitchen.”
4
ITV insiders quoted in coverage characterized the decision as “hugely embarrassing” and “demeaning” for Hayes; the reporting also notes her coaching success—Chelsea Women to a record “fifteen trophies”—which critics argued makes the “kitchen” staging especially inappropriate.
5
Some backlash was singled out as unnecessary styling rather than football knowledge: former BBC presenter Dan Walker said he “really like[s] Emma Hayes” but wondered why ITV chose “to make it look like she’s writing the specials on a bistro chalkboard.”
ITV is under fire for sexism after broadcasting England's World Cup opener against Croatia with tactical analyst Emma Hayes placed on a kitchen-themed set — complete with cabinets and a handheld chalkboard — while male pundits occupied a high-tech studio. The contrast was immediate. Viewers flooded social media with memes, many showing Hayes looking as if she were
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