Sue Radford updates fans from abroad after sparking fury with ‘tone-deaf’ post about cancelled Dubai getaway amid Iran conflict
Sue Radford, the 50-year-old matriarch of Britain’s largest family, has shared an update from Spain after she sparked a fierce backlash for venting on Instagram about her cancelled Dubai getaway.
Earlier this week, the 22 Kids and Counting star shared a photograph of herself doing a “face palm” whilst criticising a travel company for failing to respond to her enquiries.
Ms Radford explained that her children Chris and Aimee had gifted her and husband Noel weekend breaks for Christmas, which they had exchanged for a Dubai trip scheduled for last Wednesday.
She complained of “dead” telephone lines and unanswered emails, warning followers to “think twice” before using the company. Fans swiftly condemned the post as “tone deaf.”
Sue and Noel Radford made it abroad days after complaining about their cancelled Dubai holiday
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The criticism came as conflict in the Middle East continued, with airspace closures leaving an estimated 300,000 British nationals unable to return home.
One Instagram user described how their friend’s nine-year-old son was trapped in a hotel with his father, “hearing fighter planes overhead, seeing things on fire from falling debris.”
“People are dying. Others are hiding in hotel rooms/basements. And the rest are stranded with many fearing for their lives,” another follower wrote. “Your holiday does not matter right now.”
Several urged Ms Radford to show “patience and compassion for those who are really suffering” rather than focusing on her own travel arrangements.
Critics pointed out that Radford had already enjoyed five holidays in the preceding six months, including a previous Dubai trip with Noel, as well as a visit to Rome in November and multiple caravan weekends.
“Please can we be kind to companies who are dealing with a war?” one follower pleaded. “This isn’t a day to day situation.”
Another noted that travel firms “may not have protocols to deal with a war, as it’s not something we deal with very often.”
A third remarked: “All you can think about is holidays when there is a war on? Unbelievable.”
Sue and Noel currently live with 19 of their children | GETTY
Ms Radford subsequently updated her Instagram post to confirm the travel company had made contact via the platform, suggesting others in similar situations try the same approach.
However, she remained unapologetic about her original message, insisting the firm’s decision to switch off telephone lines and delete customer comments was unacceptable.
On Saturday evening, Ms Radford ignored the backlash further in a smiley snap with her husband from their latest getaway.
Noel and Sue Radford are no strangers to a holiday
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“Not sure how as it’s really not that warm but I think we both look like tomatoes,” she penned in another Instagram post, alongside a snap of the married couple and another photo of a cocktail on the beach.
