Gail Porter has publicly accused Katie Price of making a cruel comment about her appearance after she lost all her hair due to alopecia. The 55-year-old presenter developed the chronic condition in 2005, which caused her TV work to dry up. Now, she has claimed that Katie, 47, made a vile remark when introducing her to a boyfriend.
The Alleged Comment
According to The Sun, Gail made the claim in the comments of an Instagram post from Sky TV promoting Katie's upcoming documentary, Katie Price: Nothing to Hide. She wrote: 'The person who introduced me to one of her boyfriends and said ‘this is Gail. She used to be pretty when she had hair… Google her.’ Thanks.' Her story quickly garnered likes and shocked replies, with one fan writing: 'That must have been awful for you. I hope you’re okay x' and another assuring: 'So sorry she said that! You are beautiful'.
Gail's Struggle with Alopecia
Gail came to fame in the 1990s, hosting shows like Top of the Pops and The Big Breakfast. After her marriage to Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave ended, she lost her hair to alopecia in 2005 while filming in the US. Her long blonde locks fell out in clumps, along with her eyelashes and eyebrows, within four weeks. She refused to wear wigs, wanting to stay authentic, but job offers dried up. She later told Closer: 'TV is a visual industry and they want you to look a certain way. The truth is I'm not pretty and I don't have hair.'
Personal and Financial Struggles
After her TV career stalled, Gail faced homelessness and financial ruin. She recalled: 'I was going through a divorce, no money coming in. So eventually I had nowhere to stay.' She also battled anorexia, post-natal depression, and bipolar disorder, leading to a sectioning in a psychiatric unit. In 2014, an unexpected tax demand left her devastated. She spent time sofa surfing and rough sleeping on Hampstead Heath. Her daughter Honey motivated her to seek treatment: 'If I didn't have Honey I wouldn't be here. One hundred percent.'
Love Life and Tribute to Keith Flint
Gail has admitted to giving up on dating after losing her hair, saying: 'I'm bald and I don't feel confident about dating.' She was in a relationship with Prodigy star Keith Flint from 1999 to 2001, whom she called 'the love of my life.' Following his death in 2019, she shared an emotional tribute on the sixth anniversary, writing: 'If only I could turn back time.'
What Is Alopecia?
Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing baldness. Symptoms include small bald patches on the scalp. It can be triggered by stress and often runs in families. There is no known cure, but treatments may help some people.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
