Kirstie Allsopp addresses Twitter backlash over housing comments—'I'm beyond caring'

Kirstie Allsopp has said that she's 'beyond caring' after receiving strong criticism for her recent comment that 'loads of people' can afford to buy houses in the UK. 

The Location, Location, Location presenter faced heavy backlash at the weekend over her suggestion that aspiring British homeowners need to make 'sacrifices' to achieve their dreams of securing a mortgage deposit. 

In an interview with the Sunday Times on 6 February, Kirstie—who is the daughter of Charles Henry Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip—revealed how she ascended the property ladder at the age of 21 by being frugal with her spending. 

“When I bought my first property, going abroad, [and] the easyJet, coffee, gym, Netflix lifestyle didn’t exist,” she said. 

"I used to walk to work with a sandwich. And on payday I’d go for a pizza, and to a movie, and buy a lipstick. Interest rates were 15 per cent, I was earning £11,500 a year." 

The 50-year-old then offered some questionable advice to young renters, suggesting that they consider working and saving rather than pursuing a college education. 

"I do think you have to ask yourself what your degree is giving you. Could you get a job at 18, stay at home with [your] parents for three years, and save every single penny, enough for a deposit?" 

Kirstie, who today holds an estimated net worth of £10 million, has previously admitted she was given a family loan to purchase her first flat in the borough of Battersea, south London. The Channel 4 host told the Sunday Times in 2018 that her granny and parents contributed to the cost of the £72,000 property while she rented out one of her rooms to a tenant. 

She also recalled how she lacked many of the privileges plenty of millennials and Gen Z folks enjoy today, such as "Sky TV" or those gorgeous Kirstie Allsopp dresses we all know and love.

“I don’t want to belittle those people who can’t do it,” she clarified. “But there are loads of people who can do it and don’t. It is hard. We’ve fallen into the trap of saying it’s impossible for everybody. I was brought up to believe owning your home is the be all and end all and in a way I still believe that ... It’s about where you can buy, not if you can buy. There is an issue around the desire to make those sacrifices.”

Kirstie's perspective on the housing crisis was quickly met by a torrent of backlash, with many taking to Twitter to criticize—and ridicule—the TV personality's comments. 

Kirstie addressed the negative reactions on Sunday evening, taking to Twitter to explain why she has no plans to defend herself against the criticism. 

"I have learned this is pointless. When the beast attacks you don’t feed it. You’ll never be able “set the record straight” you just give a story more oxygen. Don’t explain, don’t complain. Get on with the job in hand and let your work speak for itself, " she wrote. 

She doubled down on this sentiment on Monday morning, insisting she is "beyond caring what the press or social media think about me."