Entertainment
Katie Hopkins axed from Big Brother VIP after ‘irresponsibly’ flouting quarantine rules in Australia
Katie Hopkins flew to Australia for Big Brother VIP (Picture: GC Images)
Katie Hopkins will no longer appear in the upcoming season of Big Brother VIP after reportedly admitting to flouting quarantine rules.
The 46-year-old had flown to Sydney, Australia earlier in the week ahead of the reality series launch episode and was immediately placed into two weeks of quarantine in a government-mandated hotel.
However, Hopkins shared a now-deleted Instagram and YouTube video in which she called Covid-19 lockdowns the ‘greatest hoax in human history’ and said she was deliberately breaking quarantine rules by refusing to wear a mask in the Sydney hotel.
Bosses at Seven Network, which is due to air Big Brother VIP, have now confirmed that they’ve axed Hopkins from the new line-up.
They said in a statement: ‘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.’
Australian politicians also condemned Hopkins’ behaviour, including the country’s immigration minister Alex Hawke, who said the border force had launched an investigation.
He wrote in a Twitter post: ‘With NSW & Victoria in lockdown, a reminder that temporary visa holders must obey public health orders.
‘Australian Border Force is reviewing this matter. Where visa conditions are breached, individuals may face visa cancellation in accordance with the law.’
A spokeswoman for the NSW Police Force also said it was aiding the border force review, telling the PA news agency: ‘The NSW Police Force is working closely with Australian Border Force to ascertain whether the visa to enter Australia provided to a 46-year-old woman from the United Kingdom remains valid.
‘The NSW Police Force will assist with any operational requirements to assist the woman to return to her country of origin if it is deemed necessary.’
In her deleted video, Hopkins joked that she was opening her hotel room door naked, saying: ‘The police officer who checked me in told me when they knock on my door I have to wait 30 seconds ’til I can open the door [to collect food]. Then I can open the door but only if I wear a face mask.
‘[To] frighten the s*** out of them and do it naked with no face mask. What I want is the sergeant in the foyer to come up and tell me off so that I can stand there naked while he tells me off.’
She added: ‘You are living through the greatest hoax in human history, they are trying to take everything from you, and one of the very best and most powerful weapons we have is a sense of humour, and someone like me is probably a massive thorn in their sides.’
In an earlier video, still viewable on her Instagram page, the former Apprentice star said: ‘Before you ask how have I managed to get here, you will know that I have always called lockdown the greatest hoax in human history – I have never subscribed to it. So in terms of hypocrisy I see that with politicians who are locking people down, but I’ve never been an advocate for that.’
More: Coronavirus
When asked by a follower: ‘Did you get in because you’re a journalist? We have family desperately trying to get over to see family’, Hopkins responded: ‘Yup. It is just an awful thing. Real families desperate to be United. Please font think I wouldn’t give up my place for one of them [sic].’
Many were outraged that far-right commentator Hopkins, who was permanently suspended from Twitter for hateful conduct, was allowed into Australia while family members and friends were unable to fly home.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Katie Hopkins causes outrage by flying to Sydney and flouting quarantine rules
