The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives sparks backlash as traveller community calls for C4 show to be 'taken off air'
The programme has been branded 'insulting'The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives has been dubbed a “guilty pleasure” by some viewers – but not everyone in the traveller community is impressed.
The Channel 4 show only premiered last night (Monday July 20, 2026) and it has already sparked a backlash online.
Some travellers and gypsies have spoken out and branded The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives as “embarrassing and insulting”.
There are even calls for it to be “taken off air” or, at least, be given a title change.
What is The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives?
The reality show follows Trewley-Precious Wass, a TikTok star whose late dad Sid was a Romani gypsy. Her mum Tina is a gorger, which means a non-gypsy, and Trewley is finding herself torn.
Throughout the series, she is seen battling her mum’s strict ‘gypsy’ rules, which have been handed down from Sid.
Trewley-Precious is not allowed piercings, she has to be chaperoned to nightclubs and is even forced to obey to a strict 10.30pm curfew – despite being 26 years old.
Her three older sisters have all settled down with kids, but Trewley has no desire to be a ‘gypsy wife’. She wants her own career, even if it means going against her family’s wishes and traditions.
But after the first episode aired, many members of the gypsy and traveller community began speaking out. A big gripe is the bad language Trewley uses when speaking to Tina.
‘It’s shocking’
Sharing their thoughts, one person told us on TVGuide’s Facebook: “It’s shocking. I am a travelling woman. I am half a gorger as well. But I was definitely not brought up like that.
“No offence against the family but it is truly shocking the way that gypsy wives are portrayed in this series. Shame on Channel 4.”
Another added: “The programme should not called Gypsy Wives, it’s not about it Gypsy Wives. Best of luck to the girl making the programme but it doesn’t represent anybody in community. It’s very embarrassing how she spoke in front of her mother certainly something Gypsy women and girls wouldn’t do…”
Agreeing, a third said: “I’m sorry, but what she represents is quite an insult to the traveller community. Hats off to her trying to make a name for herself and she looks like she’s done it, but to the rest of us it’s embarrassing and insulting.”
Someone else even pleaded:”Please take this off air. These ain’t travellers or gypsies. We’ve got bad enough name as it is.”
Trewley-Precious reveals ‘acceptance’ issues
TVGuide contacted Channel 4 for comment. The broadcaster insists the documentary makes clear the “mixed culture” Trewley has been raised with.
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives is an observational documentary series looking at the experience of Trewley Precious and her family. Trewley has amassed a significant following on social media platforms such as TikTok creating content that highlights her Gypsy heritage and her life on a council estate.
“The films make the family’s mixed cultural heritage clear and faithfully reflect how Trewley and her sisters relate to the Gypsy traditions that they were brought up with.”
Last week, Trewley-Precious also spoke about the division she faces over being a “half” Romani. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, she said she struggles to fit in with both traveller and non-traveller communities.
Speaking about the premise of the show, Trewley told hosts Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway: “It’s showing people than I come from two different types of cultures.
“My father is a gypsy and my mother is a gorger, that means non-gypsy. When I was growing up, I had a bit of a culture clash.
“That was very hard. Where I wasn’t full [gypsy] I wasn’t accepted that way. Where I was half, I wasn’t accepted that way either. I kind of had to make my own path.”
Trewley added: “My dad passed away four years ago and, now he has passed, I’m wondering what I’m doing next. What’s my next step, what are the rules? What can I do now?”
