Becky Hill criticises Jack Whitehall over class-based joke at BRIT awards

Becky Hill has criticised Jack Whitehall over a joke made during last year’s BRIT Awards, saying the comedian’s “Wetherspoons Whitney” remark crossed a line and left her feeling “devastated” and angry.

The 32-year-old singer, known for her chart-topping dance hits and powerful vocals, said the comment was more than light-hearted banter, describing it as a “punch down” aimed at her Midlands roots and working-class background.

Speaking about the moment in a recent interview with NME, Hill said the impact of the joke stayed with her and even influenced her upcoming music. A track on her third studio album, Rebecca, titled Daddy Range Rover, was reportedly inspired by the experience.

“How f***ing dare he punch down,” she said, while acknowledging she could accept comparisons to Whitney Houston but felt the class-based angle went too far.

Hill also reflected on broader issues within the music industry, saying her frustration with social inequality and financial pressure has shaped parts of her new work, including her single More! More! More!, which explores the strain felt by ordinary families amid the cost-of-living crisis.

She said many people feel “trodden on” but are forced to accept their circumstances, adding that her own upbringing helped shape her perspective.

Hill explained that while her parents tried to present a middle-class life, money was often tight, and her background continues to influence her outlook and resilience.

Following the 2025 BRIT Awards, the Disconnect singer also addressed the remark on social media, arguing that it highlighted a wider class divide within the entertainment industry and the unfairness of mocking artists for their origins.

Hill maintains that success in music is often tied to privilege and has continued to speak out about representation and class perception in the industry.