Katie Hopkins to be deported after being dumped from Big Brother VIP
British media personality Katie Hopkins has been dropped from Seven’s forthcoming series of Big Brother VIP, after the far-right commentator had her visa cancelled this morning.
Hopkins was set to appear on the second-ever Australian edition of Big Brother with an all-celebrity cast, 19 years after the format first appeared on network Ten.
Speaking with ABC News Breakfast, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said: “The Australian Border Force acted very quickly to ensure the visa on which she entered was cancelled.
“We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can possibly arrange that. I’m hopeful it will happen imminently.”
Hopkins was set to appear on Big Brother VIP
Public and media backlash to Hopkins was swift after she broadcast live on Instagram on Saturday morning from hotel quarantine, during which she called COVID-19 lockdowns “the greatest hoax in human history”.
In the since-deleted video, she also boasted about breaching her quarantine restrictions in Sydney, and said she had been trying to open her door without a face mask on.
In her chat with ABC’s Michael Rowland, Minister Andrews passed the buck on Hopkins’ arrival, revealing she had arrived in the country “with the support of a state government” who had approached the Federal Government to grant Hopkins a visa.
“She came in here on the basis of potential benefit to the economy.” As a result, Hopkins and others to arrive in Australia this way were not part of the Federal Government’s “quarantine cap” on arrivals.
Andrews added: “It’s appalling this individual behaved the way they did and she will be leaving, without a doubt.”
.@karenandrewsmp tells @mjrowland68 Katie Hopkins came into Australia with support of a state government on the basis of economic benefit.
She's described Ms Hopkins behaviour in quarantine as "shameful".
"Personally, I'm very pleased she'll be leaving." pic.twitter.com/Iql66flPbq
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) July 18, 2021
The decision to deport Hopkins, who was reportedly contracted to Shine, followed confirmation from Seven that she is no longer a part of the cast of Big Brother VIP.
“Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine,” said the network in a statement to media.
Hopkins has previously been dismissed from English radio station LBC after she called for a “final solution” after the Manchester Arena terror attacks at a concert in 2017. She has also been permanently banned from Twitter for breaching its “hateful conduct” policy.
Also reportedly joining the cast of Big Brother VIP is Caitlyn Jenner, with reports from News Corp suggesting she is currently undergoing her own hotel quarantine ahead of appearing on the show.
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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topics
ABC News Breakfast
Big Brother VIP
Caitlyn Jenner
Endemol Shine
Karen Andrews
Katie Hopkins
Seven
Shine
Shine Australia
