‘Celebrity Big Brother’ 2014: Evander Holyfield reprimanded for anti-gay remarks
Somehow, it seems that nobody bothered to inform Evander Holyfield before going on “Celebrity Big Brother” about what happened on the American version of “Big Brother” this past summer. During a conversation with Luisa Zissman about gay boxers, the former boxing champion eventually ends up declaring that homosexuality is a choice that it is something similar to having a disability.
Not long after the comments, Holyfield is scolded by producers for the comments, saying that they are some that will offend a good many people out there. The boxer then defends himself, but does not really offer up that much in the way of a mea culpa.
It is pretty easy to compare this to a number of other situations that have played out in pop culture in recent months. You obviously have the direct connection to Aaryn on “Big Brother 15,” though most of her comments were geared towards race rather than sexuality. Then, you also had Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame with all of the comments that he made that were anti-gay recently. Of course, Holyfield has the right to share whatever beliefs that he wants to within the house, just as everyone else should have the right to, but be prepared for whatever ramifications, good or bad, come your way as a result of the comments that you shared. It will be interesting to see if this story blows up on anywhere near the same level that some of Aaryn’s comments did during “Big Brother” last summer, or what happened with Phil and “Duck Dynasty” over the holidays.
What do you think about Holyfield’s comments, and also the way that the show handled it? Be sure to share your thoughts below, and we’ll have more on this situation if anything more develops.
bridgette
January 6, 2014 @ 2:39 am
First of all I think that the show is wrong for reprimanding Evander simply because he is not the one that brought up the conversation. Luisa started the offensive conversation by asking a straight man who if he knew if there were any gay boxers. What if I went into an establishment and asked if there were any lesbians that worked there? Who cares who is gay or straight, why did she want to know? That in itself is offensive. She is the one that thought it all up and she is the one that knew that the conversation should never have been started. And what about Dappy and his penis situation, that was just as offensive. The CBB show is all about controversy and anybody that has a half brain knows that you guys set Evander up and its a shame, all for your ratings. The CBB show is not a show that thrives on what is right in society or what is the right thing to say, it is a show that seeks to bring attention to themselves by any means necessary. Evander is not the type of person that would judge anybody, and I know that Luisa did this on purpose. Isn’t she bisexual? Doesn’t she sleep with both men and women? YOu knew this and that’s why you handcuffed Evander to her knowing her views already. YOu put them together knowing her views beforehand. Shame on CBB for allowing this to happen and not inform all of the contestants about starting these conversations including Luisa who started.