Ben Shephard expresses anger after guest loses £30k to scam

This Morning: Ben Shephard Seethes Over £30k Romance Scam

In a gripping episode of This Morning, host Ben Shephard found himself visibly upset when hearing a guest’s harrowing story of being conned out of £30,000. The ITV show made its return on Wednesday, January 22, featuring Ben alongside Cat Deeley. The pair spoke with Yvette Williams, a woman who fell victim to a romance scam involving a US rapper.

Yvette recounted her experience with Lydell Birch, known as Moka Blast, whom she met on Tinder in 2019. Initially charmed by Lydell’s attentiveness, she soon became ensnared in his web of deceit. As the story unfolded, Ben expressed his outrage, stating, “It just makes my blood boil when you hear things like this.” He empathized with Yvette, acknowledging the difficulty of speaking out about such sensitive matters, especially involving significant sums of money.

Yvette traveled to Las Vegas to meet Lydell, where her initial excitement quickly soured as he manipulated her emotions, convincing her to send him the hefty sum under the pretense of funding his ventures, including a barbershop and his music career. Alarm bells began to ring when he suggested she remortgage her home, but by then, it was too late—he abruptly cut off communication.

In a shocking twist, Yvette discovered she wasn’t alone. She joined a Facebook group comprising nearly 4,000 women who claimed to have also been scammed by Lydell. Despite the mounting evidence against him, Lydell dismissed the allegations in a previous YouTube statement, claiming the women willingly gave him their money.

Ben read Lydell’s past remarks on air, questioning how his actions could be deemed a romance scam. “These women gave me their money out of their own free will, how is that a romance scam? They gave me money and I gave them a good time,” Lydell had said.

The emotional fallout from Yvette’s story left viewers shocked and outraged. Ben’s reaction highlighted the show’s commitment to addressing serious issues that impact individuals and the community at large.

This segment not only shed light on the darker side of online dating but also sparked discussions about the importance of awareness and caution in these increasingly common scenarios. Ben and Cat Deeley’s compassionate handling of Yvette’s experience made it clear they are dedicated to supporting those affected by such scams, urging viewers to remain vigilant in the digital age.