With the search for missing UK teen Jay Slater continuing to dominate headlines, a British talk show has been called out for reading out a "demeaning" joke about the rescue operation.
Jay, 19, has been vacationing in Tenerife while attending the NRG music festival with friends. They last saw him on Sunday, June 16, while partying at Papagayo Beach Club in Playa de las Américas.
Instead of returning to their shared accommodation, Jay opted to continue the night with two British men. In the early hours of June 17, the trio traveled by car to the men's Airbnb in the village of Masca, approximately 19 miles from the beach club.
Jay was last seen leaving the farmhouse, named Casa Abuela Tina, after he informed friend Lucy Mae Law that he was going to attempt to make the approximately 10-hour walk back to their apartment.
The search efforts have been extensive by Spanish authorities, with Jay's family flying to Tenerife to assist.
As theories about what happened to Jay continue to circulate online, cruel jokes have also been doing the rounds.
This became a topic of discussion for British broadcaster Jeremy Vine who made a point of reading some out on live TV during an episode of his eponymous talk show. Take a look below:
Discussing how social media has been flooded by "amateur sleuths", Vine recalled such theories as: "Could he have gotten stuck to a piece of cactus because that happened to me once."
Dubbing the trolling as "unfortunate", Vine continued to read through comments, before reading out a joke that left his co-presenter visibly unhappy.
Vine said: "Has the search party looking for Jay Slater tried shouting 'AutoGlass repair'? If he's in the vicinity he will shout back 'Autoglass replace'."
The comment refers to a popular jingle that is played during commercials for the windscreen repair company Autoglass.
Vine made a point of describing the joke as "not funny".
Comments from viewers flooded in, with one person writing on the show's YouTube channel: "Ridiculous discussion - reading out trolling tweets is demeaning to all involved."
A second viewer said: "Like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Plus it was cleared safe to read by the researchers and producers who screen them."
A third added: "How was that allowed through the producers to be aired," while a fourth said: "Vine knows exactly what he's doing."
The search for Jay has now entered its 13th day, but there are currently no updates, and a "massive search" with volunteers is set to get underway this morning.
.jpeg_et7uzG?tr=w-1024,cr-0.0.1024.1413&config=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)
In regards to the trolling, Jay's mom Debbie Duncan said, as cited by the Daily Mail: "I am really saddened by all your comments. You seem to be so bothered about this GoFundMe page."
"I really hope I am not taking my son home in a body bag. I really cannot believe the British public are not supporting me in trying to find Jay. This may happen to any of you one day. Very let down by you all."
.jpeg_vfYpm4?tr=h-40)
.jpeg_yNVThT?tr=h-40)
.jpeg_et7uzG?tr=h-40)
.jpeg_vfYpm4?tr=h-184)
.jpeg_yNVThT?tr=h-184)
.jpeg_et7uzG?tr=h-184)