Coleen Nolan, 59, has defended herself against social media criticism she received for smiling at her sister Linda’s funeral, insisting people must “stop judging how others deal with grief”.
The Loose Women presenter addressed the backlash during Monday’s show after trolls attacked her for smiling at the service held in Blackpool earlier this month.
Linda Nolan was laid to rest on Febuary 1
Getty
Explaining the criticism she faced, Nolan said: “I got out of the funeral car smiling because there were about 2,000 people looking and smiling. And I’m getting slated on social media… ‘What’s she smiling about?'”
She revealed the sight of so many mourners initially moved her to tears in the car, saying: “When we turned the corner there was all these people there and it made us cry because Linda would have loved it!
“I didn’t want to get out the car and not acknowledge the crowd,” Nolan explained.
“I saw all those people and it made me cry because Linda would have loved it. And I’m so glad they turned out for her.”
Nolan revealed she had been ‘slated’ on social media
ITV
The presenter admitted the criticism initially affected her, saying: “It bothered me at first, but then I thought I’ve got to stop caring what people think.”
She emphasised her smile was “a gratitude thing” towards those who had come to pay their respects.
Nolan issued a spirited defence of herself against social media trolls
ITV
“It’s just hard. Because there was a time I thought ‘do I go back, is it too soon?'” she shared, her voice breaking with emotion.
“And then I thought ‘you have to’. Because life goes on,” she added.