Ann Widdecombe hits back at Andrew Brady homophobic claims
Having clashed with Andrew Brady in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Ann Widdecombe has responded to the remarks he has made since his eviction, regarding her views on the LGBT community.
After Andrew branded her 'homophobic' in an interview with the Gay Times, Ann, who came in second place on the current season of the show, has hit back at the implications.
Speaking to MailOnline, Ann, 70, said: 'If I was homophobic I wouldn’t have gay friends, which I do!
'I don't judge people by what they do in the bedroom!' Ann Widdecombe has hit back at Andrew Brady's claims she is 'homophobic'... but 'isn't surprised' that he thinks that
Standing her ground: After Andrew branded her 'homophobic' in an interview with the Gay Times , Ann, who came in second place on the current season of the show, has hit back at the implications
'My simple answer to that is: I don’t judge people by what they do in the bedroom.
'I judge people on whether they are kind, whether they go the extra mile. So I am not hurt, not insulted and I am certainly not surprised.'
27-year-old Andrew told the LGBT publication: 'Someone like Ann has been in the public eye, has been educated, and I don't think people in that instance can be forgiven.
'It doesn't matter how old you are, if you're racist you're a racist. If you're homophobic, you're homophobic. I don't think age can be used as an excuse. Prejudice is prejudice. It doesn't matter what shape it comes in, or size, or age – it's still prejudice.'
Difference of opinion: Andrew continually locked horns with the former politician, initially for his 'childish' antics around the Big Brother house
'I don't think people like that can be forgiven!' Andrew Brady has said Ann Widdecombe should be 'torn to shreds for her homophobia' in a new interview with Gay Times, released on Friday
Andrew continually locked horns with the former politician, initially for his 'childish' antics around the Big Brother house.
But as he grew closer to Courtney - real name Shane Jenek - he began to take issue with Ann's beliefs, given that they affected Shane directly.
But Ann insists that her beliefs have not changed since being in the house and sticks by them: 'I have no regrets about my views on LGBT rights. I don’t arrive at those positions lightly.
'My basic message was that you can have free speech, but you don’t have to believe my beliefs. I explained those views and the public seemed to like freedom of speech. Why would [my views] change?'
Speaking to Gay Times , the 27-year-old told the publication: 'Someone like Ann has been in the public eye, has been educated, and I don't think people in that instance can be forgiven'
Offended? Ann refused to acknowledge Courtney, despite Shane insisting that whenever he's in drag he'd like to be referred to as such
In the Gay Times article, Andrew went on: 'She's very intelligent and very smart, so she doesn't delve into the depth where people can get properly offended. She didn't go "That's queer. That's gay," whatever you want to say as an offensive word. So people can't get offended. You kind of have to be impartial until the day she says that – and then you can tear her [homophobia] to shreds.'
Ann refused to acknowledge Courtney, despite Shane insisting that whenever he's in drag he'd like to be referred to as such.
'For Ann to say, "Oh I'm not going to refer to you as Courtney – you're Shane" is disrespectful. She basically said that Shane is the sort of boy you'd want your granddaughter to bring home, but Courtney is a tart.
'It's amazing how different she treated Courtney and Shane J. But deep down he has the same heart, he has the same muscle fibres, he has the same bone structure, he has the same penis! It might be stuck to his bumhole but it's still the same one.
Happy outcome: 'I’m glad a man won the competition – it’s about equal treatment. A man can win and celebrate what women have achieved!' Ann said
'You have to respect that, and I don't think Ann did. The hypocrisy there was real.'
Ann has also addressed this, telling MailOnline: 'Courtney doesn’t exist. Shane isn’t Courtney he’s Shane.
'But I’m glad a man won the competition – it’s about equal treatment. A man can win and celebrate what women have achieved!'
Offended? Ann refused to acknowledge Courtney, despite Shane insisting that whenever he's in drag he'd like to be referred to as such
What's the score? Andrew has been the subject of speculation with regards to his own sexual leanings since forging his bond with Shane/Courtney on the show
'But seeing how much it affected her for years really impacted our relationship. If she'd only been more open from an earlier age, we would have been closer. It was only after she came out that we actually became friends.'
Courtney is allegedly the front runner to win the current season of CBB, which comes to a climax on Friday night.
According to bookies, she is 'the hottest CBB fave in the show’s history'.
Betway’s Alan Alger, said: 'We took plenty of bets at 6/1, 5/1 and 4/1 in the opening week and those punters look to be sitting on a very nice profit with odds for Courtney to go all the way now just 2/5.
'Ann Widdecombe definitely has her supporters and is 2/1 to upset Shane J’s party, but it looks as though the ex-politician will have to settle for second.'
Cute: Andrew was seen telling Courtney 'You are my worthy winner, okay. And I love you so much. You are the most amazing thing I've met in the last few years of my life'
Return: Andrew returned to the house as part of a task, having been axed in a triple eviction last week
Andrew returned to the house as part of a task, having been axed in a triple eviction last week.
He was seen telling Courtney: 'You are my worthy winner, okay. And I love you so much. You are the most amazing thing I've met in the last few years of my life!'
Shane, however, has openly admitted to having a crush on Andrew, bursting into tears when he was evicted.
Yet Andrew has expressly told his friend that they are pals and nothing more.
Read the full interview at gaytimes.co.uk.