Yahoo News Celebrity Big Brother: India Willoughby compares drag to 'blackface'
Celebrity Big Brother’s India Willoughby has angered viewers again.
This time, it’s over comments comparing drag to ‘blackface’.
India, 51, has been particularly vocal on telling housemates about her phobia of drag queens and how uncomfortable they make her, but her latest comments have proven even more shocking.
The outrageous and offensive views came about when former The Apprentice hopeful Andrew Brady dressed up in drag. Upon seeing him, she began to weep and got upset.
‘I know that people that perform in drag don’t do it intentionally, probably like in the old days when the black and white minstrels used to put on a show.
‘Obviously black people would find that offensive, and I just want to make it apparent to you why I got upset.’
India has already accused iconic drag queen Ru Paul of ‘cheapening’ the notion of being transgender, further enraging the LGBTQ community with her outlandish comments.
‘That word transgender can mean everything from RuPaul to someone who’s Bob one day and Barbara another day, and I think that cheapens the seriousness of it,’ she said.
Suffice to say, Twitter were not pleased by her remarks.
India compared Blackface to drag #CBB pic.twitter.com/5z3T7eOsFO
— Ali (@TvvitterGod1) January 8, 2018
No I’m sorry there’s absolutely ZERO correlation between drag performers and black face, that’s an absolutely disgusting comparative that shows how little India actually knows about drag #CBBUK
— (@atwriley) January 8, 2018
#CBBUK #CBBIndia India is perfectly entitled to her own feelings. But to compare drag to blackface is grotesque, offensive & oppressive. Blackface was a way for white people to mock black people, drag by drag queens and kings is a way for them to express THEIR OWN gender identity
— Andy (DdWho) (@ZodinsBrother) January 8, 2018
Anybody notice John Barnes’s face when India said drag queens were as offensive as black face #CBB pic.twitter.com/gunVTUnQmm
— .xo (@LaurandOrdre) January 8, 2018
India Willoughby on #cbb comparing drag queens to blackface is deeply ignorant and offensive to women/people of colour.
— Tara Watson (@tara_watson_) January 9, 2018
Still not over the fact India compared Drag to blackface last night! How ignorant can one be?!? ♀️ #dragisart #CBBIndia #cbb
— Poppy (@Poppy71558937) January 9, 2018
Please tell me that someone schooled India for comparing drag to blackface. My GOD #cbb
— Kay (@disco_clone) January 8, 2018
Since declaring her fear of drag queens, users have been eager to point out that, prior to entering the CBB house, she’d been snapped with a number of drag queens and seemed rather happy about it.
And it’s led some to suggest she’s making it all up for attention.
India looks petrified with this drag queen #CBB pic.twitter.com/x1Oqds38HR
— Samuel (@xsamuelking) January 8, 2018
People were quick to prove how India herself has tweeted plenty of support for drag in the past, without a tear in sight…
Conchita – what are you doing here? The fab ladies of @hausofdench @Pride_Diversity pic.twitter.com/IBldb7TPI7
— India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) May 20, 2017
Celebrity Big Brother continues tonight, 9pm, on Channel 5.
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