CBB: Ex-UKIP member Winston McKenzie slammed by viewers over homophobic slur

The first Celebrity Big Brother of 2016 has only just begun, but the controversy is already well underway after former UKIP candidate Winston McKenzie decided to introduce himself to viewers with a homophobic slur.

The former boxer and UKIP Commonwealth Spokesman – who resigned form the party in November last year and has a well-documented history of making homophobic and racist remarks – hadn’t even set foot in the infamous Elstree compound before making an offensive remark about what he would do if he had to share the house with a gay man.

winston

The 62-year-old used his pre-recorded intro VT to comment that that he could “cope” with sharing the house with a gay man, but that he’d keep his back to the wall at all times.

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

Viewers were quick to voice their disgust at McKenzie’s remark on Twitter, with many also criticising Channel 5 for choosing to include them in a pre-recorded video.

Winston. Back to the wall? I suspect you will be entirely safe. #CBB

— Alison Moyet (@AlisonMoyet) January 5, 2016

Can we evict Winston already please? #CBB

— Michelle Visage (@CBBMichelle) January 5, 2016

https://twitter.com/phet2009/status/684502611261845504

https://twitter.com/JackGreenUK/status/684495689431265280

https://twitter.com/IncrediblyRich/status/684491937156599808

While McKenzie’s slur went unchallenged by host Emma Willis as he entered the house, Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side presenter Rylan Clark-Neal made his feelings clear after the main programme, commenting: “I’m already having a brick wall made for his eviction – just in case!”

Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood also slammed the “grotesque” comments during his appearance on the Channel 5 spin-off show.

McKenzie is among 16 celebrities who entered the CBB house last night (January 5), which includes several openly gay men in former Eastenders star John Partirdge, Kim Kardashian’s best friend Jonathan Cheban and former X Factor finalist Christopher Maloney. How they’ll get on with their controversial new housemate – particularly given that he won’t be venturing into the centre of any rooms – remains to be seen…

Celebrity Big Brother is on Channel 5 at 9pm tonight.

In This Article: