Fans of the popular Channel 4 show Gogglebox reacted strongly to a recent episode in which a son emitted a blunt expletive towards his mother, igniting a flurry of comments across social media platforms. The incident occurred during the broadcast on Friday evening, March 14, when viewers observed the family consisting of Michael, Sally, and their two sons, Jake and Harry, as they shared their reactions to the week’s television offerings.

As the family watched the BBC nature documentary series The Americas, narrated by Tom Hanks, an amused Sally expressed her delight regarding the monogamous habits of Blue-footed booby birds. However, the moment took a sharp turn when her son Jake interjected with the phrase “shut the f**k up,” a remark that left viewers at home in disbelief, as reported by The Mirror.

The aftermath of the broadcast saw a wave of criticism directed towards the family on social media. One viewer expressed their outrage, stating, “Telling his parents to shut the fk up? And they just sat there and took it like it was nothing? I’m sorry but @ch4 do not show this family ever again. Utterly utterly disgraceful.” Another user chimed in with similar sentiments, remarking, “If one of my bros said mother stfu I’d go nuts! In fact mine wouldn’t simple! And they are 28 30.” A third commentator noted, “I can never imagine saying ‘oh shut the fk up’ to my parents, even in a jokey way.” A fourth person added, “I will never get used to kids who swear at their parents.”

In contrast, not all viewers condemned the family’s dynamics. Some individuals came to their defence, arguing that such exchanges might be typical within their household. One supporter commented, “Why is everyone surprised at the guy telling his mum to stfu? She laughed, so it must be normal and parents allow it.”

This is not the first time the Kent-based family has attracted negative attention. In earlier episodes, they faced criticism for being perceived as “boring,” an impression that was echoed by other viewers who noted a lack of engaging commentary since they joined the show. One fan remarked on social media, “They haven’t said anything of interest or anything funny since they joined the show.”

The diverse reactions to this episode of Gogglebox highlight the differing views on familial interactions and communication styles, as well as the evolving nature of public discourse surrounding parenting and child behaviour.

Source: Noah Wire Services