Kathryn Thomas.
Kathryn Thomas has said sorry for a comment she made about wheelchair users live on radio.
The Operation Transformation presenter admitted she’d made her point “badly” and apologised for any offence caused.
Wheelchair users and advocacy groups blasted Ms Thomas for a remark she made during an interview on Newstalk FM’s The Hard Shoulder.
Discussing how the RTE show promotes a healthier lifestyle she said: “Do you want to live to a hundred if you’re sitting in a wheelchair?”
Access for All Ireland hit out at the comment and posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Well actually yes we do.”
They added: “This is a terrible analogy by @gokathrynthomas to use on national radio on a primetime show. Words matter and matter greatly.”
Activist Emma Ward said: “As a wheelchair user this was very upsetting to hear. Wheelchair users are humans too and don’t deserve to have that type of ableism tolerated.
“Just because I use a wheelchair, it doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t want to live to 100, I want to live as long as I can and do as much as I can in this life.
“I don’t want to be feeling that as I grow older I’m going to become a burden to my family – that’s what that comment makes me feel like.”
Another disgruntled listener posted: “Kathryn Thomas is lucky she’s in a space where she believes she will never be hit by illness and/or disability.”
Ms Thomas, 44, said she regretted any upset caused by her comment.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I want to say sorry to anyone that uses a wheelchair for a comment that I made in a radio interview this week.
“The point I was trying to make, clearly very badly, was how we are all living longer and so as we age it’s even more important than ever to look after our health by incorporating exercise into our lives to promote health longevity.
“But that’s not an excuse. I said something that offended wheelchair users.
“I would never set out to intentionally hurt anyone and for that I’m truly sorry.”
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