Katie Hopkins has had her VISA cancelled after she arrived in Australia, allegedly to compete in Seven’s Celebrity Big Brother.
Seven has not yet confirmed any of the rumoured celebrity appearances on the show.
Hopkins rose to fame after appearing in The Apprentice, and then became a columnist at conservative British publications The Sun and The Daily Mail. She is known for her Islamophobic views, and has also been criticised for classist, anti-feminist, fatshaming and anti-immigration views, including describing migrants as “cockroaches”.
In 2020, she was permanently removed from Twitter for breaking their hate speech rules.
Hopkins will be deported from Australia after breaking hotel quarantine restrictions. In a now deleted Instagram video, Hopkins described how she had broken hotel quarantine rules. She said she would wait for workers to deliver her food, and then “spring [the door] open and frighten the shit out of them and do it naked with no face mask.”
While in hotel quarantine, individuals are supposed to wait thirty seconds after food is delivered to collect it, and must wear a mask too.
A statement released by Seven West Media and Endemol Shine said, “Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia confirm that Katie Hopkins is not part of Big Brother VIP. Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine.”
Hopkins was in Australia on a ‘critical skills’ visa, which has now been cancelled, according to Karen Andrews, the Home Affairs Minister.
However, many have questioned why Hopkins was scheduled to appear in Australia at all, particularly given the thousands of stranded Australians overseas and her racism.
For those back home wondering, Katie Hopkins no longer appears on British TV, due to her long history of bigoted remarks. She is (rightly) considered toxic here. If an Australian channel has really arranged for her to appear on their show, that is genuinely shocking.
— Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) July 17, 2021
Katie Hopkins being dumped from a reality tv show for breaking COVID restrictions and not for being a massive fucking racist is literally the most Australian thing imaginable
— The Shovel (@TheShovel) July 18, 2021
I've had many low points in this pandemic but the Katie Hopkins bullshit has left me in a white hot rage. It shows our government's naked contempt for every Australian separated from family by closed international borders. Our citizenship is worth nothing. This country is broken.
— Jill Stark (@jillastark) July 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/Sarah_Kendall/status/1416796520733716489?s=20
While celebrities have been flying into Australia throughout the pandemic for relocated projects, another individual alleged to be appearing on Big Brother VIP has been criticised.
Caitlyn Jenner, who is currently running as a Republican to be Governor of California, has landed in Australia. This is despite the current cap of 3000 arrivals a week, and an estimated 34,000 Australian citizens waiting to come home.
My wife's flight home to Australia was cancelled today due to the arrival caps but nice to see Caitlyn Jenner (who's supposedly running for governor of California) managed to get into Sydney to appear on Big Brother https://t.co/wjpOs0iy6M
— Sam Clench (@SamClench) July 16, 2021
Just caught up on the news that Caitlyn Jenner & Katie Hopkins are allowed into Australia for Celebrity Big Brother, when tens of thousands of Australians overseas can’t get back home. I cannot. With the Australian arts sector decimated, why not cast some Australian celebs in BB?
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) July 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/rhiannontweet/status/1416243935224033288?s=20
Jenner is not techically taking a spot in hotel quarantine away from a returning Australian, according to the federal government.Cast member of Big Brother have been granted extra places, seperate to the current cap for returnees.
As reported by The ABC, Home Affairs Minister Andrews said that “contestants on Big Brother received an exemption based on support by the NSW government.”
“The NSW government approved quarantine for Big Brother contestants above the quarantine cap.”
Featured Image: ABC News
