Big Brother’s Trish apologises for old homophobic tweets following eviction
Big Brother contestant Trish Balusa has apologised for resurfaced tweets. (ITV)
Big Brother star Trish Balusa has apologised to fans after old homophobic and anti-Asian tweets of hers were discovered following her eviction.
Trish, who was a favourite to win the ITV reality show, left the Big Brother house on Friday (10 November) as part of a shocking double eviction that took both fans and housemates by surprise.
The 33-year-old was so beloved by viewers that the Big Brother studio audience could be heard chanting “Trish To Win” before her plot-twist eviction.
After she left the Big Brother house, Trish’s old X (aka Twitter) account was discovered, along with some 10-year-old tweets that contained homophobic and racist language.
Both Trish and Big Brother producers have responded to the backlash that ensued.
In a post to Instagram, Trish apologised to fans for the “harmful stereotypes [she] perpetuated” and the pain she brought to “marginalised communities and groups of people mentioned.”
She continued: “There are no excuses for the ignorance that I showed and I am deeply disappointed, embarrassed, and ashamed that I once made such comments. I have come a very long way since by educating myself and being educated by others on the impact and harm these views cause.
“It is part of the reason why I am so passionate about standing up for others and holding myself to a high standard of responsibility and accountability for my actions.
“I appreciate the support you’ve all given me on the show and I understand you feel disappointed.
“I know apologies can seem convenient in these circumstances but I mean it from the bottom of my heart: I am truly sorry. I hope it is possible for you to offer me grace and believe that people can change.
“I am committed to being the person I am now, the person you have known me as – someone who speaks up, stands for what they believe in, and always open to growth and accountability.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Initial TV, the company behind Big Brother told BBC News in a statement: “This weekend we have been made aware of concerning historical tweets.
“We are currently looking into why they were not identified by the independent supplier we engage to review the digital footprint of potential housemates as part of our pre-checks.”
Additionally, a planned appearance by Trish on Big Brother’s spin-off show Late & Live has been cancelled, a source told the national broadcaster.
Typically, when a contestant is evicted from the Big Brother house, they appear on the spin-off series hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best to discuss their time on the reality show and engage in heated debates about the season thus far.
Big Brother continues on ITV2 and ITVX from Sunday to Friday.
