Gemma Collins says she was 'honoured' to film video with Bridget Phillipson about caring for SEND children as she hits back at trolls - and insists 'it's a topic close to my heart'

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:24, 21 May 2026 | Updated: 13:30, 21 May 2026 Gemma Collins has hit back at trolls and said she was 'honoured' to record a video about caring for SEND children as she insisted it is a 'topic close to my heart'. The Only Way Is Essex star, 45, sparked confusion after taking part in an advert with with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in which the pair met to discuss education reforms. The clip - seemingly designed to take advantage of a The Devil Wears Prada trend -saw Collins arrive at the Department for Education and ask staff: 'Right. What are we doing to help the children?' before being shown into the minister's office. Despite it going viral, the reality TV staple received widespread confusion over the video, as parents of SEND children questioned whether she was the right choice for such a promotion. But Collins has hit back at critics, saying she did not receive any payment for taking part and insisting she does have experience of the issue. She cryptically said it is something she has been 'dealing with', adding that 'all will become clear'. In videos posted on Instagram, she told fans that she understands 'more than people think' and that provision for SEND children is 'a topic close to my heart'. 'I just want to come on and say stay tuned because I do have experience with SEND, and you know I don't really want at this stage to go into it that much, but you know, I do understand a little bit more than people think,' she said. Gemma Collins has hit back at her doubters, saying she did not receive any payment for taking part and insisting she does have experience of the issue Reality TV star Gemma Collins teamed up with the Department for Education (DfE) for a video that quickly sent the internet into meltdown 'Just trying to spread positivity and yeah it's all going to become clear very soon.' In a second clip she said: 'At the end of the day I'm getting attention, I wasn't paid, I'm creating a lot of noise around the subject so please bear in mind that it's what I'm there to do for everyone and get people talking.' She added that she hadn't been paid to take part in the video, saying: 'I was honoured to do it and you know it is a topic close to my heart that I've been dealing with and it's all going to become clear hun.' Collins also visited Focus 1st Academy this week, a specialist independent school, where she talked to staff and students about SEN issues. It came after some parents of children with special education needs branded the video 'tone-deaf' and questioned whether Collins had any relevant experience of SEND issues. One said: 'This honestly feels like a mockery for those of us who have been battling for our children to be supported, protected and in a suitable education placement for their needs. We are exhausted and this is quite frankly, insulting.' Another labelled it 'appallingly tone deaf'.  But some disagreed, and welcomed the celebrity's attention. 'Any publicity to raise awareness for our SEND pupils is vital,' said one parent. 'We don’t have room to be picky about who speaks up for our children. Well done Gemma and anyone else that has a true experience that wants to help. No experience is too small.' Phillipson also leapt to Collins' defence after the criticism, and said: 'There was no payment, I got Gemma a couple of cans of Red Bull but that was it. I really enjoyed chatting to her about why school matters for all our children.'  The clip saw Collins speak with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured)  Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she blamed the backlash on 'outright snobbery'. She said Collins has an 'incredible reach', adding: 'I think some of the discussion around this that I've seen has veered between outright snobbery and just downright unpleasant really and just a bit of killjoy attitude.  'There's enough doom and gloom in the world, there's enough bad things happening, a bit of joy and a bit of fun, I think could do us all a good favour.' The collaboration between the department and reality star will continue, the DfE said, as Collins 'will also post content produced, filmed and edited by her team on her own channels'.  It is designed to promote alternative qualifications for those who do not always excel academically, including the new vocational qualification, V-Levels, and pathways to employment as opposed to further education.  Follow-up videos posted on the TOWIE star's social media showed Collins telling Phillipson that she left school without a Maths GCSE and that she is a fan of King Richard III.  Collins, often referred to as her alter-ego 'The GC', rose to fame in 2011 on the series TOWIE and harvested followings from featuring in other shows, including ITV's Celebrity Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. She was recently embroiled in controversy in the recent All Stars series of I'm a Celeb, which was plagued with bullying rows and spats between cast mates - peaking in April into a chaotic final night.   No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.