Holly Willoughby has faced backlash after promoting a £1,500 multi-organ MRI scan gifted to her by a private company. The former This Morning presenter shared a photo of herself smiling in front of an MRI scanner at a London clinic, describing the scan as checking for early signs of cancer and over 500 other conditions.
Critics accused the 44-year-old of being 'tone deaf' for endorsing a service that many cannot afford. One commenter wrote: 'Funny how they gift it to the only people that can afford it!' Another said: 'Be good to gift the MRI scan to somebody who cannot afford to have access to that kind of peace of mind you advertise.'
Willoughby has since disabled comments on the post. The scan, provided by Ezra Inc., costs around £1,500. In her caption, she said: 'As we all know, early detection saves lives, and it's incredible this is now available in London. Having that peace of mind for me and my family is so worth it.'
The controversy comes after a coroner warned that celebrity cancer announcements have contributed to rising NHS waiting times. Senior coroner Samantha Goward said high-profile diagnoses have led to a surge in referrals, straining an already overstretched system. She spoke at the inquest of Michael Moore, who died from incurable bladder cancer after a nine-month wait for a biopsy.
