Katie Hopkins has had her visa revoked after making “jokes” about breaking quarantine rules while in Sydney.
The 46-year-old British personality was due to appear on the Australian version of Celebrity Big Brother, but her contract was ripped up after she made the comments about the lockdown rules.
Now she will be forced to leave the country “imminently”.
Katie shared a video on Saturday from what she claimed was a hotel room in Sydney, while completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
In the clips she called the Covid lockdowns “the greatest hoax in human history” and joked that she would be breaking the restrictions.
(Image: Instagram/Getty)
Her comments were condemned by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews who described them as a “slap in the face” to Australians during a chat on ABC News Breakfast on Monday.
She said: “The fact that she was out there boasting about breaching quarantine was just appalling. It was a slap in the face for all those Australians who are currently in lockdown.”
She confirmed: “And it’s just unacceptable behaviour, so personally I’m very pleased she’ll be leaving”.
(Image: Getty Images)
In the original video, Katie said: “The police officer who checked me in told me, when they knock on my door I have to wait 30 seconds until I can open the door.”
“I can open the door but I can only do it in a face mask.”
Katie claimed she declined to wear a mask and instead jumped out of her room naked to receive her meals – a statement she now says was intended as a joke.
Re-sharing the clip, Katie wrote: “THAT Katie’s Arms WARNING: EXTREME HUMOUR. I have never broken quarantine.”
Channel 7 released a statement which said: “Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia confirm that Katie Hopkins is not part of Big Brother VIP.
(Image: AAP/PA Images)
“Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine.”
Meanwhile, many people in the Australian parliament have condemned the decision to grant Katie a visa in the first place.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told ABC’s Insiders: “I’m the one who wanted to send home Johnny Depp’s dogs home so I have no problem sending home someone who wants to flout our laws.
“If you want to do that, pack your bongo and get out of the country.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
