Social media users flocked to voice their overwhelmingly negative opinions of Batmanghelidjh and Yentob's performance at the select committee hearing, which was looking into the reasons why Kids Company had folded.
Charity sector commentators were equally scathing, and said they hoped the public mauling would not damage the reputation of the broader sector.
Before the hearing, PR professionals had suggested that the charismatic and colourful Batmanghelidjh would have been wise to "tone it down" and "show some real humility" when answering questions.
While Batmanghelidjh has been given some media advice by one PR firm in recent weeks, her response to one question from committee chair Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative MP, was seen as particularly ill-judged.
https://t.co/S9Rl7NA0VP #kidscompany
— Spider (@lurkingspider) October 15, 2015
Batmanghelidjh's performance earned little praise.
No matter what Batman is asked, she answers with a completely irrelevant speech. #kidscompany
— Jim Edwards (@Jim_Edwards) October 15, 2015
'Stop talking' says an exasperated @PaulFlynnMP to Camila Batmanghelidjh. #kidscompany
— Toby Blume (@tobyblume) October 15, 2015
Kids Company hearing : Batmanghelidjh accused of 'verbal ectoplasm' – live | UK news | The Guardian http://t.co/xI2dpfcEQ5
— PACAC (@CommonsPACAC) October 15, 2015
Jenkin began the event by saying that it should not become a "show trial".
.@bernardjenkin says purpose of today's hearing is not to be a show trial. Wants to identify lessons from Kids Company
— PACAC (@CommonsPACAC) October 15, 2015
Over the three hour-long hearing, varied and sometimes puzzling information emerged about Kids Company's spending.
Ms Batmanghelidjh says the charity's money was used to fund someone overseas, as a transitional measure
— PACAC (@CommonsPACAC) October 15, 2015
Ms Batmanghelidjh says some civil servants have behaved maliciously and in a way not becoming of a democracy. Claims she'll produce evidence
— PACAC (@CommonsPACAC) October 15, 2015
Paul Flynn "How do you help someone w/mental health by buying shoes worth £150?" Camila "The way you've put that question is really unjust"
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) October 15, 2015
Camila Batmanghelidjh was just asked where the money given to Kid's Company had gone "It was conceptualised"
— Ned Donovan (@Ned_Donovan) October 15, 2015
Charity sector professionals watching the hearing couldn't quite believe what they were witnessing:
This stuff will be case study material for generations of public affairs consultancies providing selcomm training. #kidscompany
— Karl Wilding (@karlwilding) October 15, 2015
so much to pick over from this morning, that I fear there is much, much more to come - car crash in extremely slow motion #kidscompany
— Nick Temple (@nicktemple1) October 15, 2015
Not to mention a quite terrible display from CB & AY - who briefed /prepped them? Anyone? Unbelievable #kidscompany
— Nick Temple (@nicktemple1) October 15, 2015
Both Temple and Wilding said they feared the charity sector as a whole might face a broader backlash.
Even more depressing, you can bet every sector commentator is already drafting the "things we learned" article / blog post now #kidscompany
— Nick Temple (@nicktemple1) October 15, 2015
Why all charities aren't #kidscompany - new from @karlwilding: http://t.co/7Yo7Zi3jRK
— NCVO (@NCVO) October 15, 2015
Important that this message now got across -vigorously! Not all #charities are the same. https://t.co/t11CXXFqUG
— Edward Harkins (@EdwardHarkins) October 15, 2015
Nonetheless, journalists have been given plenty to work with by the hearing:
There are so many news stories out of this Kids Co hearing we might just put a headline on the transcript. Extraordinary.
— Stuart Millar (@stuartmillar159) October 15, 2015
.jpg)
