Big Brother contestant Emily Hewertson has ignited a firestorm of criticism following controversial comments she made about the National Health Service and Ireland during Wednesday night's episode of the ITV reality show.
Controversial Comments Spark Outrage
The 25-year-old political events manager from Northampton, who has previously appeared on GB News to express her conservative views, found herself at the centre of controversy during a conversation with Derry-based housemate Jenny Baird. The discussion turned to the topic of Irish unity and the NHS, prompting Hewertson's inflammatory remarks.
When Jenny mentioned that Dublin doesn't have the NHS, Emily launched into a rant, stating: "Northern Ireland are very prosperous under the British government. More than they would be otherwise." She then turned her criticism toward the healthcare system, adding: "To be honest, I don't think the NHS should be the dream. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, but compared to some other European health systems, it's a bit below par."
After Jenny defended the service as "brilliant," Emily delivered the comment that would trigger widespread anger, describing the NHS as having "become a religious cult unfortunately."
Viewer Backlash Erupts Online
Social media platforms immediately flooded with criticism from furious viewers who condemned Hewertson's comments about the beloved institution. One viewer tweeted: "Can we stop blowing smoke up Emily's a**? She just said the NHS is a religious cult... not everyone can pay for private healthcare like you. Disgusting comment tbh."
Another supporter of the health service wrote: "Emily's comment p**sed me off! THE NHS is a wonderful service...it's just deeply underfunded," while a third simply described her remarks as "vile."
Many also took issue with her commentary on Northern Ireland, with one person questioning: "Emily is saying Northern Ireland is very PROSPEROUS under the British government??" Another viewer stated that Hewertson had "no place commenting on whether Ireland should be united," while others detected what they called "anti-Irish sentiment" in her words.
Hewertson's Rocky Big Brother Journey
The controversy comes during the penultimate episodes of the competition, marking another dramatic turn in Hewertson's unpredictable journey through the Big Brother house. The Tory party member was originally evicted on her very first day in a surprise twist that saw housemates Caroline Monk and Sam Ashby vote her out.
However, she made a surprising return to the competition in the third week and has managed to survive until the semi-final stages. Her continued presence in the house now hangs in the balance following the latest backlash, with the episode concluding with Big Brother revealing that two more housemates had been eliminated in an off-screen backdoor eviction, their exits scheduled to air in Thursday night's semi-final show.
The timing of the controversy could prove particularly damaging for Hewertson as the competition approaches its conclusion on ITV2 and ITVX.
