Ofcom to decide whether to investigate CBB ‘backs to the walls’ comments
Ofcom is deciding whether or not to launch an investigation into anti-gay comments by an ex-UKIP candidate on Celebrity Big Brother.
Winston McKenzie entered the CBB house last night, and was shown in his entry video making a ‘joke’ about gay people.
“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.
Crowds booed at the 62-year-old as he entered the house and many took to social media to voice their concerns.
PinkNews readers took to Facebook to say they intended to complain to Ofcom about the fact that Channel 5 aired McKenzie’s views.
Ofcom has received comeplaints and said it will decide whether it will investigate the comments.
A former UKIP PPC for Croydon North, Winston McKenzie previously claimed that same-sex adoption is child abuse said he was ‘dismayed’ to find out that Kellie Maloney is transgender.
Despite being purportedly ‘sacked’ by the party, Croydon Council confirmed last April that Mr McKenzie was once again UKIP’s PPC in the seat of Croydon North, as nominations closed.
Following stints with Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Robert Kilroy-Silk’s Veritas and the Tories, and after starting his own party and failing to become the Mayor of London as an independent, Mr McKenzie joined UKIP.
But McKenzie is now the English Democrats’ candidate for London Mayor.
McKenzie is set to be paid £60,000 for his appearance on the show, just 10 percent of the fee apparently afforded to David Gest.
Presenter Emma Willis commented, speaking on This Morning to say : “It’s always a tricky one for me on launch night. You see see that 60 seconds VT and last night, it’s all on show, you’ve got a lot of people to get in, so to challenge somebody on that point, do you then challenge others on theirs?
“I don’t think he’ll probably last very long, and that’s when the questions and challenges come.”
Willis did agree with Philip Schofield and Holly Willougby that the comments were “outrageous” and “blatantly homophobic”.
McKenzie also joined out gay former Eastenders star John Partridge, who some have speculated, may stand up to the former for his views.
Partridge, who quit Eastenders in 2012 having played the gay character of Christian Clarke since 2008.
PinkNews has reached out to Channel 5 for comment.
