Celebrity Big Brother aired yet more troubling scenes on Friday (January 5) as news reader India Willoughby continues to be misgendered by her housemates, and then India insulted drag queens.
The situation first began in Thursday's (January 4) highlight show, when former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe used the wrong gender pronouns when referring to India in front of the group.
India let the moment pass initially, but later pulled Ann aside to let her know much it "hurts" transgender people to have others incorrectly classify them.
Ann apologised in that moment, but both the politician and journalist Rachel Johnson misgendered India once again in a private conversation in Friday's (January 5) episode.
"I don't know why [I made the mistake]," Rachel admitted. "I really, really think of her as her... You do think of her as 'he'?"
"It's our generation... I do," Ann replied. "I'm watching myself the whole time."
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Ashley James, who was listening in, corrected them both: "I think you have to be sensitive to understand that she has always felt like a she. I imagine, even if she was very grateful about it, it must sting."
Elsewhere, Amanda also used the wrong pronouns when complaining that both she and India had been feeling unwell — this time being corrected in front of the group.
"Why do I do that?" Amanda wondered, with India sighing: "I dunno. That's twice you've misgendered me."
Amanda then "apologised deeply", with India setting her straight: "Apologies are not enough. I'm sorry, I did explain to you how important it was and that's twice you've done it.
"You certainly don't misgender someone and then have a chuckle."
"India, if it's not deliberate, an apology is always enough," Ann interjected.
"Let me tell you Ann," India shot back, "only I know how I feel! You don't know how I feel inside… I take great offence at that."
An understandably upset India later stressed: "I am a real woman. I'll say that one more time so it penetrates: I am a real woman!"
Amanda later approached India in the garden with a lecturing apology, telling her: "I've come to apologise for a stupid slip. You know very well it was not intentional, hurtful, anything.
"I'm very fond of you. I like you very much. I can do no more than apologise. But if you don't want to take the apology, that is entirely up to you. I'm the least likely person ever to have prejudice against anyone.
"Anybody who knows me, knows that. So, if you want to take it that I made a terrible, terrible, terrible, hurtful thing to you, I truly, honestly on my bended knee, promise you that I did not.
"I'm 82 and I made a mistake. I'm very sorry."
"You're right Amanda, silly me, taking offence," India muttered under her breath. "Apology not accepted."
The deeply uncomfortable turn of events left viewers at home questioning why it was so difficult to simply recognise India's basic humanity:
However, India also came in for criticism later in the episode when being shown a video of the incoming new contestants, one of whom is drag performer Courtney Act.
"You know some people are scared of clowns? Drag queens do that for me. Just being honest," she said, as Courtney Act flashed on screen.
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Saturday (January 6) at 9pm on Channel 5.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
