Sky News reports that on Sunday January 5, former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield who is currently on the UK television show Celebrity Big Brother, is making headlines after saying that being gay “ain’t normal.”
Holyfield made the remarks when reality star Luisa Zissman asked him if there were any gay boxers, according to TMZ.
Zissman told Holyfield: “I think it’s really bad that no one stands up and says it in the sports industry.”
Holyfield asked her: “What would be good about it?”
When Zissman replied: “I think it’s good to be open like that because it’s normal.”
Holyfield said: “But that ain’t normal.”
Holyfield attempted to explain his comment, saying, “the Bible lets you know there’s wrong, there’s right.”
Zissman, 26, said: “That’s just the way some people are born.”
Holyfield replied: “It don’t make no difference. If you’re born and your leg were turned this way, what do you do? You go to a doctor and get it fixed back, right?”
Zissman tried to coax the retired boxer into changing the subject, telling him: “I don’t think this is an appropriate conversation to have in this house.”
Holyfield was then ordered to the Diary Room where he was told by the program-makers: “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…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 replied: “Yes I understand why. I thought I was just, I forgot about the thing. I was just telling her my opinion but it’s not like I was going to mention [it] to anybody else. It was just our conversation.”
But the former boxer did not apologize for the comments that have caused outrage on Twitter.
Openly gay singer Boy George tweeted: “Shame, I had such admiration for Mr. Evander Holyfield, he seemed dignified and I was sure he was a cool, smart, giant!”
Many people have called for Holyfield to be thrown out of the house.
According to TMZ, Holyfield may think homosexuality is wrong but his son Ewin Holyfield says the heavyweight boxer has nothing against homosexuals and even had a great relationship with a gay in-law.
Ewin tells TMZ Evander is no bigot — despite being bashed for expressing his opinion on homosexuality during last night’s “Celebrity Big Brother” in the UK.
Ewin says, “My dad is the most loving and caring person you will ever meet. He treats everyone like a human being … even if they are homosexual.”
Ewin adds, “My dad feels that being gay is a choice … and naturally that’s how things work. You cannot procreate and make a baby with two women, or two men. But at the same time, my dad is not going to judge someone for their sexual orientation.”
