ITV has come under fire for casting Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith in this year’s Celebrity Big Brother by a former housemate given his conviction of violence towards his ex-wife.
Last year’s Big Brother contestant Trish Balusa launched a furious rant on the topic after finding herself ousted from the public eye in 2023 following a series of controversial unearthed social media posts.
During the civilian instalment last year, Balusa was evicted a week before the final, at which point she was accused of “racism and homophobia” over past social media posts.
The remarks referred to minority groups and she was also deemed “ableist” thanks to the public posts made before her stint on the reality show.
Due to the backlash, she was removed from the spin-off show Big Brother: Late and Live and was the only housemate who wasn’t invited to the final show.
After it emerged the Princess of Wales’s uncle Goldsmith, who is currently starring in the celebrity edition of the ITV show, had been given a 12-month community order for knocking his wife to the ground in a drunken argument, charity Women’s Aid also criticised the broadcaster for giving him a platform.
Trish took to X in a furious rant
ITV
Balusa has now joined the charity in the criticism, taking to X, formerly Twitter to express how she believes she was treated “unfairly” by ITV in a furious rant.
The 33-year-old penned: “So Kate Middleton's... uncle has decided to hit the ground running by slandering #MeghanMarkle with an ill-looking Sharon Osbourne.”
She went on: “Having two miserable old white people, one of whom was fired from their job for being racist, and the other one a wife beater, being hateful about Meghan Markle, isn't entertaining.
“Still can't believe I continue to be unfairly penalised by ITV for failed social media check BUT they calmly give people like this a platform.
Gary Goldsmith was convicted of assaulting his ex-wife
ITV
"The moral compass is easily shifted for some people Entering this industry as a black person is really something.”
Fuming, the reality star went on to condemn ITV for its casting of other famous faces, adding: “Gaslight level was HIGH.” (sic)
As well as the community order, Goldsmith also faced 20 rehab sessions, a fine of £5,000 and a £170 victim surcharge as well as £85 towards prosecution costs following his appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court in late 2017.
A Women’s Aid spokeswoman accused ITV of a "lack of awareness" by paying for Goldsmith to appear on the show.
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Trish slammed ITV for her treatment following the show
ITV
In a statement, the representative said: "The decision to include a man who has been charged and pleaded guilty to, assaulting his wife, in the Celebrity Big Brother house demonstrates the lack of awareness that the production team has when it comes to survivors of domestic abuse.
"The producers should consider how Gary Goldsmith’s appearance will impact women who have survived domestic abuse and how they will feel watching him on TV every night.
"At Women’s Aid, we would urge the producers to consider how they approach this, as for many survivors of abuse, the inclusion of men convicted of abuse in entertainment programmes will already be a sign that these crimes are not taken seriously.”
Metro reports that the spokeswoman added: “The entertainment industry has to consider the impact on women of whom they give a platform to and derive entertainment value from.”
ITV and Goldsmith have issued statements responding to the criticism over his inclusion, with the former telling GB News: "All housemates undertake training in language and behaviour before entering the Big Brother house. All behaviour in the house is strictly monitored at all times."
And Goldsmith said: "I’m not perfect and I made a mistake, a personal row seven years ago which was publicly exposed that I've worked endlessly for seven years to put right. The offence is long since spent however my regret continues."
GB News has contacted ITV for comment on Balusa's remarks.