[Pete.]

Channel 5 could face an Ofcom investigation after the regulator confirmed viewers had complained about Celebrity Big Brother contestant Evander Holyfield saying being gay "ain't normal" and can be "fixed".

The broadcasting watchdog confirmed on Monday that it was assessing several complaints, but would not confirm how many. "No decision to formally investigate has yet been made at this stage," an Ofcom spokesman said.

Big Brother producers verbally warned the former world heavyweight boxing champion about a conversation he had with fellow contestant Luisa Zissman about the lack of openly gay sports stars, which was broadcast in Sunday night's highlights programme on Channel 5 from 9pm.

The Apprentice runner-up told Holyfield that she thought it was bad that few people speak out about being gay in the sports industry.

Zissman said: "I think it's good to be open like that because it's normal."

Holyfield replied: "But that ain't normal."

Zissman then said: "That's just the way some people are born."

The retired boxer argued: "It don't make no difference. If you're born and your leg was turned this way, what do you do? You go to a doctor and get it fixed back right."

Zissman tried to change the subject, saying she thought it was an inappropriate conversation for the house.

Later, the Big Brother production team called Holyfield to the diary room to discipline him and remind him of the show's rules regarding unacceptable language and behaviour.

Big Brother said: "While Big Brother understands these are the views you hold, they aren't the views that are held by a large section of society, and expressing these views will be extremely offensive to many people.

"Do you understand why?"

Holyfield said: "Yes I understand why. I thought I was just, I forgot about the thing. I was just telling her my opinion but it's not like I was going to mention [it] to anybody else. It was just our conversation."

He has not yet apologised for his remarks.

Big Brother continued: "Big Brother does not tolerate the use of offensive language and must therefore warn you to consider very carefully the effect expressing such views may have and the harm and offence you may cause by repeating these views inside the house."

Boy George reprimanded Holyfield on Twitter saying: "Shame, I had such admiration for Mr Evander Holyfield, he seemed dignified and I was sure he was a cool, smart, giant!"

He later tweeted: "At customs there should be a huge sign! Welcome to Britain, racism, sexism, homophobia and bad hair are not tolerated!"

The last series of Big Brother attracted 965 complaints to Ofcom, making it the most complained-about show of 2013, taking into account the whole series as opposed to individual incidents or episodes.

Housemate Jemima Slade's comments that she liked "dark-skinned Mediterranean men" but "not black men" prompted 305 complaints to Ofcom, making it the third most complained-about individual programme in 2013.

Viewers were also agitated by the perceived bullying of Irish model Hazel O'Sullivan.

Big Brother also took the top spot in 2012, when Ofcom received a total of more than 2,000 complaints across the series.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...nti-gay-remark

[Ramsay]

YEAA LETS MAKE THE SHOW EVEN MORE PG WOohohohoOOO

[BBfanUSA]

Oh my god seriously? Let people speak their minds and just do what the US version did when Homophobia and Racism became a issue last year. Post a disclaimer that the views of the HGs don't reflect C5. We're not going to eject someone because of their views

[arista]

Its Normal for Ofcom.


Its no big deal
He is a American
a nation under the Bible - in most cases

[arista]

Originally Posted by BBfanUSA

Oh my god seriously? Let people speak their minds and just do what the US version did when Homophobia and Racism became a issue last year. Post a disclaimer that the views of the HGs don't reflect C5. We're not going to eject someone because of their views

It would be the same on Ch4 as well.

Its not like he said Cut people balls off

[arista]

[Apple202]

we have like one of these every series not exactly a biggie

[chuff me dizzy]

OH for fecks sake, just shut the door ,put the lights out, the PC brigade have ruined yet another series ,hope they dont moan if Channel 5 decided to walk away

[daniel-lewis-1985]

Yes I was offended by his remarks but ffs its Big Brother I like to see how people are and how they interact or talk about important issues.

Hate the Ofcom crew.

[Samm]

[Chuckyegg]

I'm not comfortable watching a tv show that includes a person who thinks gay is an illness. Makes me feel as if I am condoning it.

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by daniel-lewis-1985

Yes I was offended by his remarks but ffs its Big Brother I like to see how people are and how they interact or talk about important issues.

Hate the Ofcom crew.

They take the pee ,and if the show was stopped by channel 5 they would be the first to moan ,Ive never ,ever even had the urge to pick the phone up and report a tv show, if I dont like what Im watching I turn it over, simples !!

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by Chuckyegg

I'm not comfortable watching a tv show that includes a person who thinks gay is an illness. Makes me feel as if I am condoning it.

Turn off then ,its easy ,no one can make you watch something that you do not feel comfortable watching

[Cherie]

another series, another investigation by OFCOM. Whats new.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Chuckyegg

I'm not comfortable watching a tv show that includes a person who thinks gay is an illness. Makes me feel as if I am condoning it.

Congratulations. You're officially too thin skinned to even watch television.

[Chuckyegg]

Originally Posted by chuff me dizzy

Turn off then ,its easy ,no one can make you watch something that you do not feel comfortable watching

I'm not watching it. I don't know any of them apart from JD who I dislike, to say the least.

[Chuckyegg]

Originally Posted by Stu

Congratulations. You're officially too thin skinned to even watch television.

Shhh
Shush

[Roy Mars III]

Originally Posted by Chuckyegg

I'm not comfortable watching a tv show that includes a person who thinks gay is an illness. Makes me feel as if I am condoning it.

lol

[sampvt]

Its not OFCOM that's the problem here or even BB or the numpties that aired it when it should have been censored, it,s the hordes of sad sickos that blether about PC issues day after day just because their own sad lives make no sense.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

life has racists, homophobes fact of life we have to deal with. let people speak their minds. we don't have to agree. the real problems begin when someone acts upon their views but otherwise most human beings have views about various subjects that would offend people

[reece(:]

These people ringing to OFCOM are the ones ruining the show, nothing ever gets done so what's the point anyway.

[Shaun]

I think it's actually dangerous to keep suppressing racists, bigots, homophobes or whatever and just shutting them off television as soon as they appear: if anything we should be exploring their motives, highlighting their stupidity and acknowledging it exists. All these complaints do is sugar-coat "equality" and serve as a warped form of fascism. It does absolutely nothing meaningful. I know this is just CBB but I think it should apply to all television, film, theatre production, election, and so on. Only through discourse are people's views changed - no homophobe is going to wake up to the papers tomorrow and go "oh Evander's been banned from nominations omg x hate is wrong x".

[Jezzy]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I think it's actually dangerous to keep suppressing racists, bigots, homophobes or whatever and just shutting them off television as soon as they appear: if anything we should be exploring their motives, highlighting their stupidity and acknowledging it exists. All these complaints do is sugar-coat "equality" and serve as a warped form of fascism. It does absolutely nothing meaningful. I know this is just CBB but I think it should apply to all television, film, theatre production, election, and so on. Only through discourse are people's views changed - no homophobe is going to wake up to the papers tomorrow and go "oh Evander's been banned from nominations omg x hate is wrong x".

I was just about to say something similar. Great post.

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by sampvt

Its not OFCOM that's the problem here or even BB or the numpties that aired it when it should have been censored, it,s the hordes of sad sickos that blether about PC issues day after day just because their own sad lives make no sense.

Net curtain twitchers ?

[Jamesy]

I don't think we've ever gotten through a C5 series without Ofcom being mentioned.

I doubt it's much of a concern. We see articles like this each year.