Louise Thompson, the former Made In Chelsea star, has issued a heartfelt apology for her insensitive comments on potty training, which sparked backlash from followers. The 36-year-old and her husband, Ryan Libbey, 35, faced criticism after appearing to mock children who are still wearing nappies by the time they start school. The couple discussed a statistic that one in four children are sent to school before they are potty trained, leading to a wave of backlash from parents, particularly those with children who have Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The Apology and Its Impact

Louise Thompson took to Instagram to share her deepest apologies, explaining that it was never her intention to offend .. She expressed her 'tremendous admiration' for mothers struggling with potty training and acknowledged the challenges faced by children with SEN. according to the report, Louise stated, 'I am just so sorry that I have upset anybody and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.. It was never our intention to go out there and offend so many people let alone a community of parents and children that have so many challenges as it is and both Ryan and I are deeply devastated.'

The Context of the Podcast Clip

The couple referenced a Guardian article published in January, which discussed the statistic that one in four children are sent to school before they are potty trained. However, the article did not mention children with SEN or disabilities. Louise acknowledged that they should have considered these groups of children and admitted that this is an area that is 'so under-discovered.' She encouraged mothers who are struggling to keep messaging her to better understand their experiences and to have a more informed conversation on the podcast in the future.

Louise's Personal Perspective

Louise, who has a stoma bag and has been open about her medical conditions, shared her personal connection to the issue. she stated, 'I obviously have an invisible disability myself so I am particularly sensitive to these sorts of topics. i think so much of the battle is finding the courage to speak up about them so that people that don't understand them do, so we feel like a less marginalised group in society.' She hopes that this incident will lead to a wider conversation about the challenges faced by children with SEN and their families.

The Backlash and Initial Response

Prior to her apology, Louise and Ryan faced significant backlash for their initial response, in which they failed to apologize. They removed the clip from Instagram and stated that they had overlooked the important reference to SEN children and families. The original video showed Louise saying, 'I think a basic human right is to teach your child before the age of four how to use the loo and how to wipe their bum.' The couple laughed again as Louise said, '28 per cent of kids are going to reception unable to eat and drink on their own. That's like almost a third of children...'

Moving Forward

Louise concluded her apology by promising to use this experience as a learning opportunity . She encouraged further conversations and expressed her willingness to meet with mothers who are struggling to better understand their experiences. She stated, 'I promise this has been such an important lesson and not one that I take lightly. if anything it has given me lots of information to keep having these conversations across my platforms.'