Sharon Osbourne is facing a backlash for "ignorant" comments made on her US chat show, in which she called Madeleine McCann's parents "insane" for leaving their daughter alone.

The former X Factor judge was discussing a Mumsnet thread which asked if it was ever acceptable to leave young children unsupervised, when she made critical comments clearly directed at Madeleine's devastated parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

Speaking on her CBS show The Talk on Friday, Osbourne, 63, said: "I will tell you a very quick story.

"There was a husband and wife on holiday in Portugal.

“They left their baby in the room sleeping, sleeping while they went to dinner in the restaurant.

“While they were in the resort their baby was taken.

"And it is like, ‘Oh but we can see everything that is going on’ and it is, like, insane.”

Madeleine disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.

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She has never been found despite her parents' repeated public appeals for information and countless police investigations.

A family friend reported in The Mirror said Osbourne's comments had hurt the McCanns.

They said: “It’s very *disappointing when someone with such a high profile makes this sort of *ignorant, ill-informed comment.

“She should think about the effect it could have on Madeleine’s brother and sister, as well as the wider family.

“It’s based on ignorance of the true facts. While she’s entitled to her view she should keep it to herself.”

At the time of Maddie's disappearance on May 3, just days before her fourth birthday, her parents were having dinner with friends at the holiday resort's tapas restaurant, approximately 50 metres from their apartment.

The group had been taking turns to check on their sleeping children before Kate discovered Maddie had been taken at about 10pm.

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have since admitted they remain wracked with guilt over her abduction and have expressed regret about not using the resort's in-house babysitting service.

In an interview to mark the first anniversary of her disappearance, Gerry said: "We made a mistake, but we are paying more for it than anyone could ever possibly imagine.

"Hindsight has proven we made a mistake and we would never leave the children again."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/672...parents-insane

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8661927) If I am looking for parenting advice, Sharon is my go to gal... :umm2:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 8661935) pretty solid advice if you ask me, do you disagree with her? :shrug:

Originally Posted by the truth (Post 8661938) im not keen on here, but shes 1000% right on this one.theyre insane. its worse they left all their kids unattended in a ofreign country with a window or door left open?

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8661941) I think she should try and understand that an abductor took the child

Originally Posted by smudgie (Post 8661951) Hardly insane. Neglectful, bad judgement and totally stupid thing to do, no doubt they will have to live with that the rest of their lives. Sharon isn't my idea of Mother Earth to be fair, but she is entitled to her opinion, had the parents been publicity shy then I would perhaps feel a little more sympathy for them re their having to listen to the opinions of others being made in public.

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8661967) I think they were absolutely barmy to leave their children alone. But what's prompted her to suddenly talk about this now?

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8661967) I think they were absolutely barmy to leave their children alone. But what's prompted her to suddenly talk about this now?

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 8661955) What about if you left your 2 two year olds and your 3 year old home alone one night and the next morning the 3 year old asks you where you were when the younger ones were crying the night before? Or if you went back to check on your 3 year old, found she'd vomited while you were out so you washed her, put her back to bed and then went back out drinking with your friends? Would that be insane especially if you are a Doctor? Surely that's insanely dangerous?

Originally Posted by smudgie (Post 8661976) It is wrong, it is dangerous, I don't think anyone could deny that, but hardly the actions of insanity.

Originally Posted by smudgie (Post 8661976) It is wrong, it is dangerous, I don't think anyone could deny that, but hardly the actions of insanity.

Originally Posted by smudgie (Post 8661976) It is wrong, it is dangerous, I don't think anyone could deny that, but hardly the actions of insanity.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8661941) I think she should try and understand that an abductor took the child

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8661967) I think they were absolutely barmy to leave their children alone. But what's prompted her to suddenly talk about this now?

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock (Post 8661982) Which might not have happened if there was a family member looking after her and the other two kids?

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock (Post 8661982) Which might not have happened if there was a family member looking after her and the other two kids?

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8661990) or she gets stolen the next day at the shops same argument

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet (Post 8661994) child abductions happen with parents and without parents, most in the UK happen when kids are playing outside but noone says "well if only the parents never let them play outdoors"