165 Ofcom Complaints
 

Celebrity Big Brother has always relied on controversy to keep its ratings ticking over but it’s not every year that a contestant sparks outrage before stepping foot into the house.

Former UKIP candidate Winston McKenzie was revealed as a housemate during Tuesday night’s live launch and instantly offended viewers with outrageous homophobic remarks.

The 62-year-old’s entry video saw him “joke” about sharing a house with a gay person, must to the shock of many.





“I could cope with a homosexual in the house. I guess I’ll just have to stand with my back against a brick wall all the time,” he said, to boos from the waiting crowd.


Viewers quickly began sharing their anger at McKenzie’s comments on social media, describing him as “everything that’s wrong with this world” and complaining that Channel 5 should not have aired the clip.


McKenzie has proved controversial in the past, notably when he compared same-sex adoption to child abuse and described his “dismay” after finding out that Kellie Maloney is transgender.

McKenzie, who is reportedly being paid £60,000 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, joins gay ex-EastEnders actor John Partridge in the house.

Channel 5 declined to comment but an Ofcom spokesperson confirmed that 165 complaints have so far been made about Celebrity Big Brother.

“We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not,” a statement read.

That's clearly the reason they booked him though, actually I wouldn't be surprised if they'd brought him in just to be able to kick him out

looking at him i would say he is pretty safe

The worst thing is that the interviewer that works for Big Brother probably asked him "how would you cope with gays in the house"

Yeah exactly and then they'll kick him out if he says something similar in the house, we're all being played lol

Why, can't you be black and homophobic?

I agree with Niamh, I say they've planned an exit storyboard already.

Oh the outrage of it all!

Yeah, they kicked out Alexander O'Neal didn't they?

Facebook just told me that Winston McKenzie is trending. It was probably always their plan!

he is a london mayor candidate who will be very familiar with what he can get away with saying. I don't expect him to get thrown out, he will just cause a bit of controversy and create a bit of buzz for the series.

yup in the case of Big Brother Bad publicity seems to trump good publicity

Any controversy is good controversy as C5 would say.

Probably, it worked out well enough with Tila so it wouldn't surprise me if they do it more often going forward.

Pathetic that people are complaining.

Homophobes need exposing for what they are and this show should be representing that not all people are well and accepting of each other.

BingO..it has made the London news.
Plenty of publicity there then.

News article - Ofcom get 165 complaints about Winston remark
 

James has posted a new TiBB frontpage article.

Excerpt of article quoted above. Read full article here - http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/cele...on-remark.html

For once, I think the complaints are completely warranted. The moment he made that offensive comment he should have been pulled.

This tbh

I disagree with a lot of complaints (e.g. 1000s complaining Helen's win was a fix, even if I do hate her) but these are deserved. What if someone said something like "I'm gonna have to stay near the wall if black men are in the house."
I know I'm being theoretical here and I don't know what would happen, but my point is homophobia is more accepted than racism. He's a disgusting man and honestly I hope he gets kicked out - if he doesn't then I hope he exposes himself for a very horrid man and make people realise the reality of homophobia.

He was a failed mediocre boxer who lost 9 of a total of only 16 bouts, and like so many before him, has gained 'celebrity' through no talent or deeds, only through being 'controversial'.

These 'celebrities' are no fools, and they know that being controversial raises their 'marquee value' and guarantees them more 'showbiz' employment and increased salaries for nothing, and McKenzie is no exception. His 'political' aspirations and affinities are as fake as a £9.00 banknote, and his banal 'gay' comment was engineered to ensure the controversy he recognises as a must for success.

I would wager that he does not REALLY have any problems with gay people, but niceness does not really pay as much as offensiveness and controversy - ask that great actress and businesswoman Katie Hopkins.

He gave me Ken Morley vibes.

Very true Kirk

If C5 do keep him in, they'll throw every twist they can to do so (like they did with Farrah and Perez)
Or if he's going to be ejected, he'll be gone in under a week :)

Great post :clap1:

we don't even know if all the complaints were about winston as ofcom only says 168 complaints about big brother, it doesnt explain what they were all about so really james is talking ****e by claiming its all about winston.

Tila Tequila?