Fearne Cotton ‘shouted at’ by security after rule break on free holiday & admits she wanted to tell him to ‘f**k off’
Fearne Cotton has revealed she was shouted at by a “burly” Vatican security guard after she broke one of the Sistine Chapel’s strict rules during a freebie trip to Rome.
The telly presenter was caught snapping pics of Michelangelo’s famous ceiling, despite their being a photography ban.
Fearne confessed her first reaction was to tell the guard to “f**K off,” after he caught her in the act.
The 44-year-old claimed she’s “not very good at rules” and only follows them when they “make sense.”
Speaking on her Happy Place podcast, Fearne attempted to defend the rule break, claiming she completely missed the announcement warning visitors that cameras and phones were off-limits inside the chapel.
Fearne’s faux pas unfolded during her recent European getaway, which was a paid partnership with British Airways Holidays.
Read more on Fearne Cotton
The mum-of-two said: “When I was in Rome. I went on a short city break, and obviously, when you go to Rome, what do you do? You go to the Vatican, because it’s famed for the Vatican, and it’s a beautiful place to walk around.”
She explained that she was excited to see the ornate ceilings up close, specifically the Michelangelo one.
“I was desperate to see that in real life – and obviously take a photo of it. I got in there, I didn’t realise you’re not allowed to take photos. I’d missed that tannoy announcement, and I went to take a picture,” said Fearne.
“I got massively reprimanded, shouted at by a very burly Italian security guard, which should have freaked me out and made me go, ‘Oh god, I’m so sorry,’ but instead, I wanted to go, ‘F***k off!’”
The podcast host added: “I would never do that in the Sistine Chapel, obvs.”
But, Fearne was left furious after the incident and said it was because she “doesn’t like people telling me what to do.”
She said: “I was so riled. Like, I want to take a picture of it, I’ve got my flash on, why is it a problem?
“I also understand and respect that there are religious reasons, potentially, as to why I shouldn’t be taking the picture – I’m assuming, because I’m not quite sure why else.”
The Vatican Museums rule book states that while visitors may take snaps for personal use in most of the complex, it’s forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.
Photography, flash photography and filming using any electronic equipment is strictly not allowed throughout the museums, and guards have the power to demand visitors delete images taken in breach of the rules.
Phones are also banned inside the chapel, where visitors are asked to remain silent out of respect for the sacred setting.