Northern legend Paddy McGuinness has called out a ‘bell end’ who had a go at him for parking in a disabled space.
The Take Me Out host was out with his kids over the weekend when he was approached by a stranger who told them they didn’t look disabled.
According to Paddy, they had the relevant disabled badges on display as he parked at the play centre, and after sending his kids in he took a deep breath before dealing with the ‘ignorant tool’.
Although all he wanted to do was ‘bounce him off every car’, instead the comic explained to the random man why he was wrong for his ‘ignorance’.
The Bolton comedian and his wife Christine have twins Leo and Penelope, 6, who have both been diagnosed with autism, as well as three-year-old Felicity.
He took to Twitter to vent his frustration:
1. Just had a deep breathe and walk away moment. Dropped my little ones off at a play centre. Parked in a disability space while they got out. Had all our relevant disability badges on display only for some bell end to come over and tell us that we don’t look disabled? #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
2. I took a deep breathe and sent my children in. Luckily they didn’t understand what was going on? Once they’d happily gone in I approached this ignorant tool. All I wanted to do was bounce him off every car but there would only be one loser in that, me! #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
3. Instead I tried to explain to him that not all disabilities are the same? The ignorance and sheer pomposity of telling someone they don’t look disabled really makes my blood boil! How does someone have to look to have a disability? #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
4. This sad individual was also parked in a disability bay? He was able bodied but it would never cross my mind to ask him what his disability was as he could clearly walk? Unless you get a blue badge for being an ignorant prick? He was clearly qualified! #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
5. A few years back it would’ve been a different outcome for him, and me. He’d be on his arse and putting a call in to the tabloids. I would’ve been vilified and labelled a thug. My wife and children would’ve been upset and I’d more than likely be out of a job. #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
6. I’m so glad I took that deep breathe and handled the situation calmly. I feel better for it and hopefully that ignorant person might think twice next time or indeed learn that all disabilities are different. #ignorance
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
7. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, stay calm, take the deep breathe and educate the ignorant. You’ll feel better and you’ll still have a job to pay your mortgage and look after your family. PM ?? #ignorance #autismawareness #hypermobility
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) November 3, 2019
Well done Paddy for not losing your temper - the sooner everyone realises not all disabilities are visible the better.