Influencer branded ‘tone deaf’ after checking into the £1,000-a night Savoy Hotel when her central heating broke is forced to defend herself again after being slammed for ‘ignorant’ use of a slur for disabled people

• Lydia Millen, 35, from Milton Keynes, slammed for using the word ‘m*ng’ in video
• Read More: Influencer slammed for checking into Savoy after her heating broke

An influencer has been slammed for using a derogatory slur aimed at disabled people in a YouTube video. 

Lydia Millen, who previously received backlash when she checked into the Savoy Hotel in London because the central heating in her home was broken, shared a video on Monday with her 989,000 followers where she spoke about her inexperience publishing her first book and referred to herself as a ‘m*ng’.

After receving backlash for her use of the word, the 35-year-old from Milton Keynes, who has more than 1 million followers, defended her use of the word, insisting she did not mean it in the context it had been taken.

The influencer instead claimed she had used the word ‘in regards to a mongrel mixed breed dog’ while referring to her own ‘scruffy appearance.’

However many of her followers didn’t buy Lydia’s explanation and instead urged her to take accountability for her ‘ignorance’ and edit the video. It has since been edited to remove the slur. 

Lydia Millen, 35, from Milton Keynes, has been slammed for using the word ‘mong’ in a YouTube video on Monday

Commenting on her own video, the digital creator explained: ‘Hi everyone, I’ve just come online and seen some of the comments on this video.

‘I want to absolutely clarify that the word in question was said in regards to a scruffy (mongrel mix breed) dog, in direct reference to my scruffy appearance.

‘I wanted to comment immediately as I would never use a word/this word to offend anyone and I want to make this absolutely clear.

‘Thank you for your messages & comments, Lydia x’

Her explanation received mixed responses as some people said Lydia needed to ‘take accountability’ for the use of the word, while others argued people should ‘gove her a break’. 

One person wrote: ‘Doubling down, as usual. Try actually taking responsibility for your own ignorance and poor judgement for once.’

Another agreed, saying: ‘As the mother of a child with learning disability, who has had this word thrown at them, I take it VERY personally. 

‘It is a dreadful word, and is not acceptable. Stop making excuses for bad behaviour. Lydia should try flinging this word around at her next posh event/horse trials/whatever, and see how long it is before she is kicked out.’

It’s not the first time the influencer has been embroiled in controversy as she was slammed last year for booking into the exclusive Savoy hotel after complaining about the broken heating in her Buckinghamshire home

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Th42aW0mCOQ%3Frel%3D0%26start%3D3133

Someone else said: ‘She used a word that was historically used in Britain to derogatorily describe people who are diagnosed with Down syndrome. 

‘She is attempting to suggest she didn’t know that’s what it meant and that she confused it with a different shortened word to describe mixed-breed dogs. 

‘Basically, she used an insulting slur and is now backtracking with a hideous excuse rather than deleting the video and apologising. As always, it’s the fault of thousands of people who found it offensive, rather than her own.’

Others defended the influencer with some saying to remember to ‘be kind’. 

One person said: ‘I have to say out of all of the vloggers I am subscribed to, people are the harshest with you Lydia. 

Views were mixed in the comments with some asking her to ‘take accountability’ while others saying to ‘give her a break’

‘I don’t understand why to be honest. You’ve got an overly aggressive critical audience. When people watch vlogs it’s for escapism not for criticism. Lydia is human just like the rest of us. Be kind to her.’

Another said: ‘Oh dear gosh, some people drunk too much vinegar. You can not say anything these days. People don’t take s**t so personally.’

Someone else said: ‘I don’t comment often but please give her a break she didn’t or wouldn’t mean it any offensive way. Please be kind.’

It’s not the first time the influencer has been embroiled in controversy as she was slammed last year for booking into the exclusive Savoy hotel after complaining about the broken heating in her Buckinghamshire home.

Lydia shared a video with her TikTok followers showing her getting ready to check into the exclusive five-star establishment – which charges up to £1,000-a-night.

The video amassed over one million views in less than 24 hours and unimpressed TikTokers branded the influencer ‘tone-deaf’

In the one-minute clip, Lydia is seen picking out a £2,000 outfit from the dressing room.

Explaining why she was making the last-minute trip, Lydia said: ‘The heating is currently broken in my house so I’m heading down to London.

‘I’m checking into the Savoy and I’m going to make full use of their wonderful hot water. So let’s get ready for the day!’

When the video was uploaded, the clip had amassed over one million views and sparked fierce debate in the comments – with critics labelling it ‘tone-deaf’ amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

However the comments on the video, which was posted in November 2022, have since been turned off.

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