British far-right figure Katie Hopkins has been dumped as a cast member of Seven’s Big Brother VIP and will leave the country after breaching her contract, Guardian Australia can reveal.
On Saturday home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, ordered an urgent review of whether Hopkins has breached her visa conditions by publicly flouting quarantine rules.
“Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia confirm that Katie Hopkins is not part of Big Brother VIP,†the network said.
The production company making Big Brother VIP, Endemol Shine Australia, and Channel Seven were scrambling on Sunday to respond to the growing crisis which threatened to overshadow the broadcast of the Tokyo Olympic Games which starts on Seven on Friday.
The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has also suggested Hopkins be deported, saying anyone who flouts Australian law should “pack your bongo and get out of the countryâ€.
“The NSW government approved quarantine for Big Brother contestants above the quarantine cap,†Andrews said.
The immigration minister, Alex Hawke, also said temporary visa holders needed to “obey public health ordersâ€.
When asked about whether Hopkins should remain in the country after breaching quarantine rules, the deputy prime minister said he would happily see her deported.
The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network also criticised the move, writing to the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to question whether a character assessment had been undertaken before her visa was granted
“The decision to allow Katie Hopkins into Australia for a public-facing purpose is highly controversial and should have triggered a serious character assessment,†the letter from AMAN’s Rita Jabri-Markwell said
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