Molly-Mae Hague has broken her silence on the criticism surrounding her National Television Awards win for Best Authoured Documentary on Wednesday night.
The influencer and Love Island star, Molly-Mae Hague, 26, beat cancer survivor Amy Dowden and the late motor neurone disease sufferer Rob Burrow for her tell-all Amazon Prime six-part series, Molly-Mae: Behind It All, which hit screens in January.
Both on the evening and on Thursday, Molly-Mae was met with a barage of criticism, including comments made by Vogue Williams, who claimed Molly-Mae fabricated her split from fiancé Tommy Fury to garner publicity for the show.
In a post on Instagram, Molly-Mae emphatically addressed the bravery of her fellow nominess and insisted ‘the win belongs to them’.
Meanwhile, Stacey Solomon, who was a two-time nominee, threw her support behind the star while discounting the words of critics by writing: ‘You are special. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. congratulations darling’.
Molly-Mae Hague: Behind It All chronicled her personal crisis amid her split from professional boxer Tommy Fury due to his problems with alcohol as well as the difficulties she faced with launching her Maebe clothing line.
At the NTAs, she was up against tough competition in the Best Authoured Documentary category, including from documentary There’s Only One Rob Burrow – who she praised in her speech -, Flintoff, and Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me.
Although many expected Rob’s family to take home the award, it was Molly-Mae who ultimately scooped the prize. However in her acceptance speech gave a kind nod to Rob, who passeed away aged 41 last year after his MND battle, and his family.
Alongside a montage of images, Molly-Mae penned an emotional caption reading: ‘Just speechless. Last night at the NTAs I shared a category with people whose stories will always be more powerful and inspirational than mine…
‘I see that, I believe that and I want to acknowledge it again here. It was only right to dedicate this award to the late Rob Burrow and his family and to the remarkable people in my category… this win belongs to them…
‘I’m so grateful for the recognition but even more grateful to have stood alongside such strength and inspiration. To everyone that voted… I am absolutely blown away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
One follower offered support, saying: ‘Ultimately the public chose where they wanted to vote. Robs story is remarkable and you spoke beautifully but I think people voted for you because it resonated with so many people…
‘Break ups/co parenting/heart break and alcoholism are huge topics that people navigate every day. You might feel other people’s are more inspirational but actually you helped more people feel seen and validated that you probably realise…
‘Congratulations on an award you really deserved’.
Others supported her speech, writing: ‘Your speech was really beautifully done – and respectful. Don’t let it take away that you won this. Hold it with pride lovely Molly. It was perfect (even with you losing a shoe!). You’re real. And that’s why I’m here for it…
‘You didn’t choose which category you went in or who you were up against, but your speech said it all. You deserved your win, voted by the public, but you did the right thing with the message in your speech and acknowledged the other nominees, humble as always! Congratulations!’
One of Molly-Mae’s devoted fans slammed the NTAs team for allowing her documentary to be placed in the category, thus opening her up to abuse.
The user wrote: ‘It was a public vote just remember that so it’s geared at the younger generation! What I find shocking was who the production put her up against people with life changing illnesses and staring death in the face !…
‘I will never watch the TV awards again it’s an embarrassment’.
Elsewhere, Molly-Mae also apologised to her long-time manager Francesca Britton for not mentioning her in her thank you speech.
Over an image of the duo together, she penned: ‘Francesca Britton always by my side. The biggest thank you that my shocked brain somehow forgot to call out (so gutted with myself)…
‘None of this would have been possible without you… my right arm woman and the reason this docuumenrary came to life.’