According to the Daily Mail, Holyfield made his comments during his stay at the Big Brother UK house after he was “quizzed by The Apprentice runner-up Luisa Zissman about whether any boxers had come out as gay.”
When Zissman suggested that being gay is “normal,” Holyfield replied: “What would be good about it? That ain’t normal,” and then said that being gay was not a choice because, “that ain’t the way nobody is made.”
He was then “called to the diary room” and scolded by Big Brother.
“Before you entered the Big Brother house, the rules regarding unacceptable language and behavior were explained to you. Last night, in a conversation with Luisa, you expressed the view that being gay was not normal and that it could be fixed,” explained Big Brother, according to the Mail. “While Big Brother understands these are the views you hold, they aren’t the views that are held by a large section of society and expressing these views will be extremely offensive to many people. Do you understand why?”
Holyfield then replied: “Yeah I understand why, I forgot about the thing. I was just telling her my opinion, but it’s not like I was gonna mention it to anybody else, that was just our conversation.”
Here is the transcript from the show:
Luisa: Is there any gay boxers?
Evander: Yeah, I’m sure there is.
Luisa: Is it public knowledge?
Evander: Ain’t no-one came out and said they were.
Luisa: I think it’s really bad that no-one stands up and says it in the sporting industries. I think it’s good to be open about that because it’s normal.
Evander: What would be good about it? That ain’t normal.
Luisa: We shouldn’t have this conversation. No, let’s not have this conversation, it won’t be good.
Evander: The bible lets you know, that’s wrong, that’s right.
Luisa: That’s just the way some people are
Evander: No, it don’t make no difference. If you were born and your leg were turned this way, what do you do, you go to the doctor and get it fixed back right.
Luisa: It’s not about being fixed, it’s about… that’s just the way that you are.
Evander: No no no no no, you mean to tell me…
Luisa: I really don’t want to have this conversation.
Evander: I’m not mad, I’m just saying…
Luisa: You don’t understand, I don’t think it’s an appropriate conversation to have in this house, honestly.
Evander: All I’m trying to tell you, you know how handicapped people are born, you can’t say because they were born that way…
Luisa: You can’t compare, of course you can’t compare someone that’s gay to someone that’s handicapped, it’s not a choice.
Evander: Yes it is a choice, come on, that ain’t the way nobody is made.
Luisa: I’m tired. I don’t think people have a choice in their sexuality, or they would be unhappy.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.