The Countdown presenter, 33, snapped after she was looped into a contentious discussion after Nicola Thorp, 30, asked her 35,000 followers: “Surely we should be calling for a ban on male circumcision (non-medical grounds) as with FGM? What are the arguments against this, if any?” A Twitter user replied saying they had directed the same question to Rachel Riley in recent weeks. “You’re a bit late with this Nicola, but I do agree,” they wrote. “All genital mutilation should be banned except on medical grounds. I asked @RachelRileyRR for her opinion a few weeks ago. I know she has a tremendously busy twitter feed but I wouldn’t mind an answer.” Rachel then responded to being tagged in the thread, declaring: “Equating the two is outrageous. As is demanding an answer from me.
“Why I’m earth would I be obliged to answer such an ignorant question?” she hit back.
“I’m not equating the two, but simply asking why one is allowable and the other illegal?” Nicola replied.
“I understand that FGM is carried out to varying degrees by unqualified practitioners for despicable reasons. But what on what grounds is (non-essential) male circumcision allowable?
“You’re not obliged to answer anything,” she added. “But if you could educate me as to why my question is ignorant then I’d appreciate it.
“I already understand the procedural differences, but I struggle to see how one would justify non-consensual surgery on a child (unless medically required).”
The Countdown favourite was quick to tweet back, branding her “ignorant”.
“Why on earth do you feel this is appropriate to question me on Nicola? Seriously. Think about it,” she insisted,
“Your ignorance can be cured with google or asking someone relevant.”
“You replied to my question! I didn’t direct it at you,” the Coronation Street star blasted. “I’ve done far more than googling and have asked relevant people.
“You accused me of ignorance, so I’m asking on what grounds?”
“No I didn’t,” Rachel replied. “An idiot with 4 followers deemed it appropriate to apparently question me on the subject and then whinge on not having been replied to.
“Said idiot would have stayed happily unseen unless you’d have replied with me tagged in. Again. Why ask ME?”
Nicola told the presenter: “I just clicked reply to the guy. Obviously you were tagged in the tweet so got notified.”
Rachel proceeded to explain in brief: “FGM is an act of violence against girls, that reduces them to a transactional commodity of how much she’s worth to a man ‘pure/virginal’, which pre age 5 in effect means un-raped.
“It often leaves girls w horrendous medical problems, psychological distress & no health benefits.
“If you want to learn more about the abhorrent practise of FGM, I recommend you follow and engage with the incredible @NimkoAli,” she advised. “If you want to ask about religious male circumcision, ask a rabbi or an imam.
“If you want to morally equate the two, educate yourself, not thru me.”(sic)
“I’m not morally equating the two at all,” Nicole said. “I’m a women’s rights activist who is very aware of the abhorrence of FGM. I’m simply asking why non-medical male circumcision, without consent of the child is allowable?
“I’m not morally equating the two at all. I’m not ignorant to the deep rooted issues of FGM.”
“Again, I ask the same question. Why are you repeatedly questioning me about this topic? Answer in your own time,” Rachel snapped back.
Nicola appeared to have the final word when she explained her position, telling Rachel: “You just got caught in the cross fire with a guy who tagged you in his tweet. As I said, I didn’t direct anything at you.”
Rachel became a household name after taking over from Carol Vorderman, 58, on Countdown.
Nicola has played Nicola Rubinstein on Coronation Street since 2017.