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Good Morning Britain viewers have been left fuming over a debate about classifying ‘nerd’ and ‘geek’ as a hate crime.

Things got heated on today’s instalment of the breakfast show as Dr Sonja Falck explained people with high IQs are a minority group and are subject to ridicule.

During the debate, the psychotherapist suggested terms such as ‘geek’ and ‘nerd’ should be termed a hate crime, similar to racism and homophobia.

‘I think people find it startling because very high IQ people are a minority group in society who are very much ignored, they’re not understood and largely neglected,’ she told Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh.

‘It’s the case that very high IQ people are bullied at school for example, they’re a target for being bullied quite viciously.

‘Things are changing, words do evolve after time, but there are many words like brainiac, egghead, nerd, that mean socially awkward and contemptible.’

Dr Sonja Falck suggested calling people ‘nerd’ and ‘geek’ is a hate crime (Picture: ITV)

Viewers were left livid by the chat (Picture: ITV)

When teacher Bobby Seagull suggested this could trivialise ‘actual hate crimes based on disability, gender and race’, she insisted this is not her aim, but would like to stand up for those who have been targeted for their intelligence.



‘It’s people who are not accepted for standing out and being different, who aren’t confident and don’t know how to put themselves across, [they] get targeted,’ she continued.

‘I wouldn’t want to trivialise anything.

‘Hate crime is simply about somebody being targeted in a negative way for who they are. A person with a very high IQ who comes across in a different way often is targeted in that way.

‘I think, recognising that as an individual difference that should be respected like any other.’

However, those watching on from home did not agree with Sonja, and flocked to Twitter to fume about her comments.

‘#GMB Being called a Geek or Nerd is a positive thing, not a negative thing. Same as Jock, Goth….it’s the group you fit and identify with. We shouldn’t be so sensitive to these things,’ one said.

While a fan asked: ‘Does she understand what a hate crime is??? #gmb.’

‘@GMB by making calling someone “geek” or “nerd” a hate crime. How are you going to police that? What will the punishment be? #GMB,’ another posted.

A Twitter user added: ‘What an insult on @GMB to your viewers who experience hate crime on a daily basis… #gmb.’

Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays, at 6am, on ITV.

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