Spencer Matthews Faces Backlash for Calling Marathons 'Easy'

Spencer Matthews, 38, a former star of Made In Chelsea, has ignited a significant social media backlash following his assertion that running a marathon is an 'easy' feat. Matthews, who holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive marathons run on sand and is aiming to break the two-hour and 45-minute barrier, made the controversial remarks on the "We Have A Meeting" podcast.

"Without sounding like a kb, running a marathon is easy," Matthews stated on the podcast. "Like like most people can run a marathon. Running a marathon as fast as you can possibly run a marathon is something completely different. That's not the same thing. You know, trotting 5k with your dog is great. Trying to break 17 minutes is the 5k isn't great. It f***g sucks."

His comments quickly drew criticism from viewers and fellow celebrities. Former X Factor contestant Jake Quickenden responded on social media, stating, "Marathons ain't easy." Others echoed this sentiment, with one user writing, "‘Running a marathon is easy’ I really dislike the way sport influencers try to normalise amazing achievements like marathons / half marathons. 1% of people run a marathon in their lives. It’s a massive thing to celebrate, even more so if it’s for charity. Think egos take over a bit with these guys.'"

Another commenter called the remarks "so out of touch it's actually incredible," while another added, "Easy when you have nannies & no 9-5, keep it real pal! But yes cracking times Spenny!"

Critics argued that such statements undermine the significant achievements of individuals who complete marathons. "One video that single handedly shoots down peoples achievements," one user wrote. "Doing a marathon is hard and an amazing achievement - that should be the end of it. There should be no this is easy and it’s only hard if you did this or that."

Matthews has transitioned from reality television to extreme endurance sports. In August 2024, he completed 30 marathons in 30 days across the Jordanian desert. He has since focused on elite road racing, achieving a personal best time of 2:49:46 at the Berlin Marathon.

Separately, Matthews recently shared that he has been sleeping in the spare room of the family's rental home since the birth of his fourth child, Remy, with wife Vogue Williams. The couple also have three other children: Theodore, Gigi, and Otto. Matthews explained on the "Newly Parents" podcast that the family is in a transitional period, building a new home, and that the household dynamic is currently impacted by broken sleep and the needs of four young children.