Big Brother ‘s Brian Dowling penned an emotional statement on social media this weekend, directed at Davina McCall.
Earlier in the week, the 42-year said he was “hurt and upset” that he “wasn’t referenced at all as a host of Big Brother” on the new Best Shows Ever series on Channel 4.
Brian was referred to as a housemate, even though he also presented six series of Big Brother from 2011 to 2013.
Davina later took to Twitter to claim that Brian had been invited to appear on the new series, but turned down the invitation.
Reacting to Davina’s comments, Brian wrote a lengthy statement, accusing the 52-year-old of “fanning the flames” of the feud.
He said: “I can’t believe I’m in this position AGAIN where I’m having to justify my feelings regarding BIG BROTHER.”
Brian Dowling was one of the original housemates on Big Brother (Image: Channel 5)
Directing his comments to Davina, he said: “I’m really sad that you have again posted something today which continues to fan the flames of this on social media and in the press.
“On Thursday morning I posted a video on Instagram saying that I was hurt and upset that I wasn’t referenced at all as a host of Big Brother in the chat between all the presenters, and how this plays into my general treatment by the production company since they fired me.
“This was not a personal attack on you, Rylan or Emma at all because as far as I’m aware you do not make or edit the show and I’m a huge fan of all of you as presenters.”
Brian presented Big Brother up until 2013, when Emma Willis took over (Image: Getty Images)
Brian went on: “Subsequently I wasn’t going to say anything else about it. Then on Thursday night after the show aired you personally decided to tweet that I was asked to appear on the series but turned it down and tagged me in the post.
“Why did you feel that it was appropriate to post that? Even if you were being asked then surely you would be well aware that it would make me look bad and incite bad comments about me, when you had no idea why I might have declined to take part?
“Did I turn you down personally? No. Did you or anyone else ask me why I might have turned it down? No.”
He added: “I did not turn down filming a 10-second clip as an insult to you or Rylan. I said no because it once again highlighted how I am treated by the producers of this show and it triggered lots of mental health issues for me yet again.”
Davina previously dismissed Brian Dowling’s claims he was snubbed from Big Brother’s Best Shows Ever
The Irish star, who was replaced by Emma Willis on the show, previously claimed he learnt about his replacement after reading the story in a newspaper.
Brian said he was “hurt, upset and publicly humiliated” when he left the role and claimed his “career came to a halt” in the years that followed.
He said: “My mental health and confidence has suffered terribly for the last seven years because of that and other events that occurred whilst I was the host.
“My career came to a halt because I could not even consider working on television for a good number of years after that and my reputation damaged.
Davina was joined by Rylan Clark Neal as a host on Best Shows Ever
“I think that is a very good reason why I did not want to film a 10-second clip, and you have no idea of what really went on seven years ago and what I went through at the time.”
Asking Davina to “draw a line” under the feud, he warned her against “encouraging more negativity” by making further remarks.
He said: “This is not something I wanted to do, but I felt I had no choice bearing in mind how much poison and criticism I was personally getting.
“I certainly don’t think I didn’t anything unreasonable in posting it – I had to make a comment in light of your very bold ”FYI” post to your 2.7million followers.
“I haven’t said anything since. However, it’s now Saturday and you are still posting about this today. I genuinely don’t understand why, but I would really like to draw a line under this now please, as by continuing to post all you are doing is encouraging more negativity.”
Daily Star Online has contacted representatives for Davina McCall and Channel 4 for comment.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
