Olivia Buckland defends calling men ‘homos’ because it ‘isn’t an offensive word’
(Instagram/ab_bowen)
Updated: In a statement to PinkNews after defending herself on Instagram, her representative said: “Olivia would like to apologise for any offence she has caused.
“She is an advocate for the LGBTQ community and is saddened that she may have upset anyone.
“It was a comment said in jest to her fiancé and has now been removed, any suggestion Olivia is homophobic is ridiculous.”
Original story below.
Reality TV star Olivia Buckland has been slammed for calling two men “homos.”
Buckland, who rose to fame after coming second on Love Island with Alex Bowen, wrote the comment on a topless Instagram post of Bowen – who is now her fiancé – and his friend Brad Skelly.
The 24-year-old, who was featured in an episode of Say Yes to the Dress after getting engaged to Bowen, responded to criticism of her comment, which she has now deleted, by defending herself against accusations of homophobia.
(Instagram/ab_bowen)
One commenter wrote: “do you need to use that word – do you how many kids get bullied and tortured and as a role model for so many young kids out there do you think you could have been a bit smarter or do you think it’s ok?”
Buckland denied that “homos” was an insulting term, saying that the blame should instead be on the commenter for interpreting her use of the word in that way.
She wrote: “homosexual isn’t an offensive word if you are not a bully or not a homophone. [sic]
(Getty)
“Why would you think it’s ok to use it in that kind of tone? That’s inappropriate.
“Brad & Alex pictured above are very close and myself and Brads girlfriend have a running opinion that they would make the perfect couple if in a different world.
“You shouldn’t reflect negative connotations on the word homosexual,” she added.
(Getty)
The person critiquing her use of the term responded: “I’m sure you are not meaning to be malicious but you need to think about the impressionable young girls and boys who are following you.
“They don’t know the context and think you are using it potentially as they might be in a negative way. Trust me, for a lot of gay kids they are taunted with this word.”
Buckland, who has also presented segments on ITV’s This Morning, said: “I agree there are and it’s sad, many only see the bad connotations & immediately think negatively because that’s what they’ve learnt.
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“People need to be taught otherwise. I understand your angle but I’m not saying a word to taunt or bully. Never would.
“Maybe I just can’t imagine that people are still using it horribly!”
(Instagram/oliviadbuck)
She added: “But as I said below, I understand why you worry. It happens and I guess I just can’t believe people are still ignorant enough to use it that way.”
One person was more concise in their assessment of Buckland’s comment, writing: “What a moron.”
Responding to a commenter on Twitter who tagged her in a reply under this article, she said: “Isn’t is the wrong word, maybe I should have said ‘shouldn’t be’.
“It shouldn’t be offensive but I can understand why it is deemed to be because of how people use it in a horrible way.
“Bad choice of words by me”.
