Yahoo News Celebrity Big Brother: Ashley James blasts Rachel Johnson and Ann Widdecombe for calling India 'he'
It’s not taken long for things to heat up in this year’s Celebrity Big Brother house, especially when controversy is afoot.
Just days into the reality show, housemates have already been causing offence where transgender presenter India Willoughby is concerned.
Shown on Thurday’s CBB’s Bit on the Side, Ann Widdecombe and Rachel Johnson repeatedly referred to India as a ‘he’, before former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James stepped in.
Ann put her foot in it when she spoke about her: ‘India cleared up last night, yes… I think he did everything.’
Ashley corrected her: ‘She. She!’
Ashey followed up: ‘I’ve noticed that you’ve both said it,’ the star pointed out.
‘I did it yesterday,’ Ann replied.
‘Not with him in the room?’ Rachel butted in.
‘Yes. At least, thank god, you haven’t done it with him,” Ann replied back. At which point Ashley blasted the pair for misgendering India yet again.
Viewers were not happy about the duo’s constant slip-ups.
Former BB housemate Nikki Grahame shared her thoughts on Ann, even before the controversy occurred.
I know it’s year of the woman and all but just so you know Ann is a huge homophobe, I’m not down for her, you can’t sit with us, bye Felicia
— Nikki Grahame (@NikkiGrahame) January 2, 2018
But other fans were not buying their ‘mistakes’ and called Ann out as transphobic.
Well I'm sure no-one could have predicted Ann Widdecombe being a hideous, retrograde old transphobe. #CBB pic.twitter.com/bX3RJC5s1J
— Enough of That v2.018 (@AndyGilder) January 4, 2018
Ohhhh boy
That movement was clearly “I don’t like you and whatever you are” there from Ann #CBB
Closet transphobe, it’ll all come out— Mo Farah sign (@Mrs_Foo_Cough) January 3, 2018
Ann makes watching this series painful can she be voted out first pleaseeee #CBB #CBBuk #CelebrityBigBrother
— Chantelle (@Elleayyhw) January 5, 2018
a
Ann Widdecombe mis-gendering is exactly why her being on #cbb is a terrible idea.
— Norma Desmond (@genheron) January 5, 2018
tell me how you can misgender the only trans housemate by "accident" when it's an all women house lmaooo bullshit ann, just say ur transphobic and go #CBB
— k a i y a (@KaiDeGennaro) January 4, 2018
Was obvious that Ann would start a transphobic row… Took her a day #cbb
— That's nice that (@KulturVulture) January 4, 2018
India herself hit back when Ann previously replied to her when talking about how her dad named her after his favourite food. ‘I think he’s pulling your leg,’ Ann said.
India replied: ‘He? She!’ To which Ann responded with: ‘Oh, I beg your pardon.’
“I know it was a genuine mistake.
‘You know it hurts transgender people when that happens, but I know you didn’t mean it,” India said.
Ann then retorted: “If you hadn’t been talking about it so much, I wouldn’t have thought anything.
‘It was a genuine mistake.’
With the men entering the house on Friday – including football legend John Barnes and reportedly Dapper Laughs and Boyzone’s Shane Lynch- chances are we will be seeing more arguments and controversy over the coming weeks.
Catch CBB on Channel 5 each night at 9pm.
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