Big Brother fans were left furious over Paul Blackburn’s alleged comments on the ITV show’s 24-hour live stream on Sunday night.
The 23-year-old security guard was accused by viewers of making a transphobic slur about evicted housemate Hallie Clarke, 18, during a new Halloween challenge.
The house was decorated with Halloween decorations, including skeletons around the living areas and garden – one of which was recreated with oranges in the shape of breasts and an appendage that appeared to resemble a penis.
Several Twitter users claimed Paul heard the skeleton shouting “Hallie” – following the trans teenager leaving the show on Friday and telling the house she planned to undergo feminising genital surgery.
After viewers tweeted about the story on the microblogging site, fans soon flooded with messages insisting he should be sacked immediately for making the “transphobic” comments, while others called on Ofcom to take action.
Eek: Big Brother fans were left furious over Paul Blackburn’s alleged comments on the ITV show’s 24-hour live stream on Sunday night
Hmm… The 23-year-old security guard was accused by viewers of making a transphobic slur about evicted housemate Hallie Clarke, 18, during a new Halloween challenge
Hmm… The house was decorated with Halloween decorations, including skeletons in the living areas and garden – one of which was recreated with oranges in the shape of breasts and an appendage that appeared to resemble a penis
Hmm: Several Twitter users claimed that Paul heard the skeleton shouting “Hallie” – following the trans teenager who left the show on Friday and told the house that she planned to have feminizing genital surgery
Not good: Soon fans were flooding with messages insisting he should be sacked immediately if he made the “transphobic” comments, while others called on Ofcom to take action
A fan account for the show wrote on Sunday evening: “Flowed through again tonight.” Well, that was an interesting live stream…
“Paul shows how transphobic he really is with the skeleton in the garden. ‘I’m so angry about this and still hoping I misunderstood this but if this is true then big brother should intervene #bbukD!’
To clarify the story, an onlooker asked, “Could you please clarify that I saw them positioning the skeleton in the house but didn’t hear what they said?”
To which the user replied: “They named this skeleton Hallie and then did this to him.” There’s something between his legs. It does not look good…
“Paul told Olivia that she wouldn’t like it if Yinrun saw it.” And they basically had a joke about it. I’ll try to find the stream later and watch it again.’
Another Twitter account shared the claims, writing: “On the live feed last night, Paul stuck something between a skeleton’s legs and said, ‘It’s called Hallie.’ He then told Olivia that she won’t like it if Yinrun it looks.
Fellow viewers soon expressed their outrage at the moment, writing: “Paul needs to be held accountable for this, Big Brother had better speak out.” #BBUK… This should result in immediate removal. No excuses @itv, do you tolerate transphobia or not?…
Eeek: “Paul shows how transphobic he really is with the skeleton in the garden. “I’m so angry about this and still hoping I misunderstood that but if that’s true then big brother should intervene #bbukD!”
“Get that disgusting transphobic persecutor out of there, I’m so sick of him… Totally out of order if that’s what they said!… can we write to ofcom?… Surely people have been removed for less as previously…
‘Oh dear God!! I defended Paul but that is UNACCEPTABLE!! My support for him ends now!! Are you going to do something about it? #BBUK…
“That’s exactly what I said. Roommates were removed for less money. They HAVE to do something… I liked Paul as a roommate but if that’s true it’s disgusting and even more so when it’s at the expense of an 18 year old…
“Woah yes, 100%!” Do you have to be thrown out for that??!!’
Web has contacted ITV for comment.
During her time in the house, Hallie revealed she would be spending some of the £100,000 prize money on “a new vagina”. On her second day, she came out as transgender to her co-stars and admitted she felt like she wasn’t “authentic” without telling them.
She further told her friends Kerry and Jenkin that if she won the ITV show, she would spend £30,000 of the money on genital feminization surgery.
Hallie said, “If I win, I get a vagina.” Designer vagina. And I will repay my mother for all the years she paid for my treatment.
An emotional Kerry asked how much it would cost, to which Hallie replied: “About 30 grand.” The mind doesn’t fit the body. This is the best way to describe being transgender. “I have a feminine mind, but the body doesn’t match.”
Hallie also explained that she was prevented from being sexually active due to her not being in the right body yet.
Farewell: Hallie was the third person to be kicked out of the house on Friday, October 27th