Actress Michelle Collins sparks fierce Twitter row after saying she ‘had to step over’ a homeless man wrapped in a duvet on the pavement in North London
- Michelle Collins shared an image of a rough sleeper in Highgate, north London
- EastEnders actress said she ‘had to step over him’ sparking debate on Twitter
- Some slammed Collins for not doing more to help but others supported her
Actress Michelle Collins sparked a fierce Twitter row after sharing a picture of a homeless man she ‘had to step over’ in London.
Collins – best known for her role as Cindy Beale in EastEnders – shared an image of the rough sleeper wrapped in a duvet on the pavement in Highgate, north London.
She wrote: ‘I’m not sure if this is voyeurism but I had to take this picture of a man in a sleeping bag in Highgate on the pavement (very affluent area) at 12.30.
‘He was fast asleep and I had to step over him. I felt quite disgusted that this is happening.’
People flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the post, with some slamming Collins for not doing more to help the man.
Actress Michelle Collins (pictured) sparked a fierce Twitter row after sharing a picture of a homeless person and saying she ‘had to step over him’ in London
Collins – best known for her role as Cindy Beale in EastEnders – shared an image of the rough sleeper wrapped in a duvet on the pavement in Highgate, north London
Samantha Campbell wrote: ‘Wow you stepped over him did you leave him any money, ring the council, see what can be done?’
Another user wrote: ‘1) That’s not a sleeping bag.
‘2) You stepped over him while there is two-metre space around. 3) He could have been dead and you thought let’s take a picture and post on the twitter to get negative and positive results.
‘4) I would have woken him up and made sure he or she was ok and alive?’
Another angry Twitter user wrote: ‘Wake him up with a coffee and a sandwich and slip him a fiver! Step over him…’
But others jumped to her defence.
Mia wrote: ‘I wouldn’t call this voyeuristic Michelle.
She took to Twitter to explain that she ‘had to step over’ the person on the pavement in London
Collins later added: ‘Why would I wake him up? Maybe if I was not alone I may have tried I just don’t know, it didn’t feel right or safe to do so’
‘I’d say you’re calling out something that is sad, unacceptable and heartbreaking.
‘This shouldn’t still be happening. Let’s see if the local council do anything to help?’
Darren added: ‘Some of the replies to this picture… Like you were meant to wake him up and have a chat when studies show six out of ten homeless people have a drug or alcohol dependency.
‘You did the right thing, raise awareness with the council who can in turn contact people who can help.’
People flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the post, with some slamming Collins for not doing more to help the man
Collins later added: ‘Why would I wake him up? Maybe if I was not alone I may have tried I just don’t know, it didn’t feel right or safe to do so.
‘The homeless situation is terribly worrying especially as now they are being released from hotels and back on streets.’
Earlier this month, official data revealed that 16 homeless people have died of coronavirus in England.
An Office for National Statistics report showed more homeless people died of Covid-19 than were expected to have been killed by alcohol poisoning or suicide – two of the leading causes of death – during the same period.
Charities called the deaths a ‘tragedy’ but praised councils for stepping in to protect vulnerable people and ‘undoubtedly’ saving many lives.
Figures show there are around 280,000 homeless people in the UK, a figure charity Shelter says includes those in temporary accommodation.