Jack Whitehall blasted for ‘inappropriate’ Brits gig as Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver wade in on controversy
TV presenter Miquita Oliver has slammed Jack Whitehall’s hosting performance at the 2025 Brit Awards, calling it “inappropriate” and “condescending”.
Speaking on her Miss Me? podcast with Lily Allen, Oliver criticised the comedian for cheapening the music ceremony with his approach.
The Bad Education star returned to host the ceremony after a four-year hiatus, having previously presented the awards show four times.
When discussing his hosting skills and the jokes which were filtered throughout the night, Oliver quipped: “I felt like he brought a condescending and somewhat glib attitude to the proceedings.”
She claimed Whitehall was “undermining” the artists being honoured at the O2 Arena event, which took place on Saturday, and specifically took issue with Whitehall’s repeated jokes about drug use in the music industry.
“There were over 10 jokes about musicians taking cocaine. Dated. Over,” she remarked on the podcast.
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The presenter suggested that these references were out of touch with the current reality of the music industry and added: “We’re talking about the heady days of something that doesn’t exist anymore.
“Now we’re in this influencer, corporate room, and we’re talking about it as if we’re in this room full of rock and roll stars.”
Allen agreed, stating she doesn’t believe musicians are taking cocaine at the Brit Awards like they may have done in previous decades.
One drug-related joke occurred when Whitehall interviewed actor Danny Dyer about his forthcoming comedy film “Marching Powder”, which left the host to ask: “You were the lead part on Marching Powder. Did you have many lines?”
The host also made a controversial reference to disgraced music mogul P Diddy during former Little Mix star Jade’s performance.
When the singer performed wearing an all-white outfit, Whitehall remarked: “I love that she went for that aesthetic. I really thought Diddy might have done it for the white party theme.”
The ill-timed joke comes as P Diddy – real name Sean Combs – is currently under investigation, having been charged last year with racketeering and sex trafficking.
Whitehall’s jokes also prompted backlash from viewers at home, with some remarking that “every other word was bleeped by ITV” because of drug references.
Others took to X to describe his jokes as “distasteful” and “unfunny”, as one penned: “You had Munya Chawawa right there… and chose Jack Whitehall to host? Who’s running the programming?”
The comedian also faced criticism for likening Jade’s reunion with Little Mix to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby and for calling Stormzy “the Grime scene’s Ronald McDonald” in reference to his recent controversial McDonald’s partnership.
The Brit Awards ceremony has also faced controversy beyond Whitehall’s hosting performance as broadcasting regulator Ofcom received 825 complaints about the event, primarily concerning Sabrina Carpenter’s performance and Charli XCX’s outfit.
American singer Carpenter opened the show with her hit Espresso before changing into a red negligee and suspenders to perform Bed Chem on a heart-shaped bed.
The routine, which featured suggestive choreography, aired before the 9pm watershed.
An Ofcom spokesperson stated: “We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”