Simon Jordan reveals what he said to Eni Aluko in off-air moment that went viral
Simon Jordan has set the record straight about his viral ad break conversation with Eni Aluko, dismissing claims made by a lip reader quoted in the Daily Mail.
Speaking on Wednesday’s edition of White and Jordan on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace chairman rejected the newspaper’s interpretation of what he said during Tuesday’s heated exchange.
The Mail had reported that an expert lip reader claimed Jordan told Aluko: “But nobody cares, drop this. It’s definitely you. I know it. I know.”
“I didn’t say that,” Jordan stated firmly, branding the lip reader “clueless” and accusing him of “making it up as he goes along.”
Simon Jordan has revealed what he said to Eni Aluko in off-air moment that went viral
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TALKSPORT
Jordan then revealed what he actually told the former England international during the commercial break.
“What I said to Eni in the break was that you were foolish to go for Ian Wright,” he explained.
“For whatever reason he is a national treasure. You are silly to have done that and it is your own fault. You brought this on yourself.”
The talkSPORT host described their off-air conversation as “a fluid exchange” that “wasn’t hostile.”
Simon Jordan doesn’t seem to be too happy with Eni Aluko during ad-break pic.twitter.com/D85s4vXzB9
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He was referencing Aluko’s public dispute with Wright last year, when the Arsenal legend declined to accept her apology after she accused him of obstructing opportunities for female pundits.
The exchange stemmed from Aluko’s recent podcast comments suggesting women’s football should be “gatekept,” with former players who have substantial experience in the women’s game taking precedence for major broadcasting positions.
Her remarks ignited significant debate, prompting criticism from former talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods, who argued that caps alone do not guarantee work.
During Tuesday’s programme, Jordan delivered a scathing assessment of Aluko’s punditry credentials, describing her as not “particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic.”
He accused her of displaying entitlement, telling her directly: “I think the language you use is steeped in entitlement. I don’t think you’re owed anything.”
Simon Jordan ripped into Eni Aluko, insisting she’s not ‘particularly enlightening, illuminating, engaging or charismatic’, while sat next to the former England Lionesses star
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talkSPORTAluko mounted a robust defence of her credentials, pointing to her 11-year career in punditry and her groundbreaking appearance as the first female pundit on Match of the Day in 2014.
“I listen to the professional, the people who have hired me for the last 11 years, the biggest broadcasters in the world,” she responded.
The former Lioness argued that working alongside respected broadcasters demonstrated her own standing in the industry.
“By default, if I’m working with the people who are considered brilliant broadcasters. If I’m next to them, then by default I’m considered also a brilliant broadcaster,” she said, adding that no employer had ever suggested she was “struggling.”
