'Big Brother' 18: Corey Brooks' Homophobic Remarks and Goat Story Have Viewers Crying Foul
One word, Corey Brooks: Seriously? It seems the self-described extraordinary, passionate and lovable baseball coach from Dallas needs a reminder of how Big Brother works (i.e. there are cameras watching contestants 24/7) in light of his recent homophobic remarks and a story about how his friend apparently once tried to light a goat on fire — statements many viewers found offensive and troubling.
Ever since the contestants who would be locked up in the Big Brother summer vacation-themed house were announced in early June, many have kept their eyes on Corey. One social media user dug up Corey's alleged and now-deleted tweets from 2011 with homophobic slurs.
@hamsterwatch and another .. maybe just "guy stuff" but should know better - at the very least should have deletedpic.twitter.com/GMAto9wuXr
@hamsterwatch so he clearly does or did use this language routinely.. he told Jeff his reputation is everythingpic.twitter.com/F3A1RS68Ue
As could have been expected, Corey didn't bring his filter with him into the house. The way he's acknowledged Cody's brother and other male contestants' bodies has led other houseguests to question his sexuality, which has since prompted Corey to clarify multiple times he is not gay.
Corey says, "The party was so gay..." and Jozea says, "It was what?" and awkwardness ensues...#BB18 #BBLFpic.twitter.com/nnCWGtx5KZ
Corey just found out that the Feeds are on now and people saw Jozea flirting with him. Corey: "People are going to think I'm gay now." #BB18
Zakiyah to Corey about Jozea: "He thinks your gay." Corey: "What!? That's weird. I'm staying away from him." #BB18
He even waved to cameras and stated "I swear I'm straight."
Corey- Mom, dad, I swear I'm straight. I swear #BB18pic.twitter.com/ozoBSwuk7Q
This caused Twitter to create the oh-so clever hashtag #NotGayCorey.
NotGayCorey just enjoying the #BB18 view ...pic.twitter.com/3EmEAuXzTZ
Victor and #NotGayCorey doing the birdie shot... #BB18pic.twitter.com/PVRFflQ2vX
when you're totally straight, but a fine man walks by #bb18 #NotGayCoreypic.twitter.com/dZjY6Bo9hb
Soooo this is happening... #NotGayCorey #BB18pic.twitter.com/OSUIJSrvlr
Mic asked season 15 contestant and the only openly gay winner of Big Brother Andy Herren, his thoughts on Corey's homophobic comments.
"Do I think Corey is an evil homophobe? No," he said. "What he is, though, is just as bad: He's gay-phobic. He'll joke about finding guys attractive, but then when anyone insinuates that he could be gay he goes into a panic and does whatever he can to make sure people know he isn't gay, like being gay is something horrifying.
"He also throws around 'that's so gay' when talking negatively about things, which, in 2016, needs to stop. To Corey, being gay is something that he is deeply scared of and doesn't understand, and his ignorance on the subject is rather appalling. Ignorance is the key word here. I don't think Corey has a lot of hate in his heart or anything, but I do think he has a lot to learn when it comes to dealing with homosexuality."
It's not just homophobic comments Corey has been called out for. On the live feeds over the weekend, Corey explained — with a smile on his face, no less — how his friend had purchased a goat and poured lighter fluid on it in attempts to light it on fire.
It's safe to say that many Twitter users, including Herren, called out the way Corey told his story:
Corey's goat story is awful, especially because he told it with a big grin on his face. And people laughed with him. Ugh. #BB18
What kind of sick human,laughing, tells story of him and his friends covering a live goat in lighter fluid/setting it on fire? #BB18 #Corey
Not only is Corey a #homophobe but thinks it is funny that his frat almost burned a goat alive. #Sick @CBSBigBrother #Evict @Kassting
I definitely would have been evicted this week because I would be protesting in the backyard. Not a fan of the goat "humor." #bb18
I gave corey the benefit of the doubt because everyone has different political views and the tweets were old. but animal cruelty? #bb18
Many have also taken issue with how Corey joked about "beating the living crap" out of Nicole for pranking him.
Wow, that dbag "Corey" on #BigBrother18 joking about "beating the crap" out of Nicole. Stay classy, bro. @CBSBigBrother
More Corey 'humor'. Regarding getting back at Nicole for a shaving cream like 'failed' prank. #BB18pic.twitter.com/voDWO7Kpuj
Between Corey's goat story and his wanting to beat Nicole up line idek what to say.. #BB18pic.twitter.com/SusKYuRJW9
also Corey: homophobic, had a gay panic, muttered that he would beat nicolehttps://twitter.com/powerofvetoes/status/747126430933327872 ...
This is hardly the first time that contestants have said controversial remarks during the livestreams. But in its 18 seasons, a houseguest has yet to be removed from the show for what they've said. (Mic has reached out to CBS for more information on its eviction procedures.)
The next episode of Big Brother 18 airs next at 8 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. But, for an unfiltered view of the contestants, check out the 24-hour livestream.