Here we go again.
Boxer Evander Holyfield, who is currently on the U.K.’s Celebrity Big Brother, is in hot water for remarks he made on the program comparing homosexuality to a disability, saying both can be treated by a doctor. All together now: Ughhh.
Holyfield made the remarks on Sunday when reality star Luisa Zissman asked him if there were any gay boxers, according to TMZ. He responded that homosexuality is something doctors can fix.”That ain’t normal!” he says. “The Bible lets you know what’s wrong and what’s right.” He continued his “handicap” analogy: “If you were born, and your leg was turned this way, what do you do? Go to the doctor and get it fixed…The only thing I’m trying to tell you is you know how handicapped people, you can’t say because they’re born that way you can’t move that…Yes, it is a choice.”
When Zissman repeatedly told him he was wrong, and also that they shouldn’t even be having this conversation in the 24/7 camera house, Holyfield replied he was “just telling her my opinion.” While the content of what he’s saying is obviously offensive, the conversation between the two was fairly civil.
Here’s where things get interesting: Unlike on the most recent version of the U.S.’s Big Brother — which also made headlines for racist and homophobic remarks by many of the castmates — on the celebrity U.K. version, producers called out the negative remarks instead of just letting things play out without interference. Holyfield — who never apologizes – was brought into a room and told by producers his comments were “inappropriate,” and they “aren’t the views that are held by a large section of society.” He was then given a warning to not say remarks like that again, but he continues to be on the show.
Watch both the conversation and the talk with producers below, courtesy of TMZ:
