Big Brother star Hallie’s mother has spoken out in support of her daughter after she was asked about being transgender by fellow housemate Farida.
Hallie’s mother Samantha appeared on Big Brother spin-off show Late & Live on Tuesday where she said her daughter ‘handled it so well’.
Farida, 50, was curious to know whether men who fancied Hallie, 18, were considered to be gay, after admitting it is important to educate herself.
Fans were divided over Farida’s ‘uncomfortable’ questions, with some praising her for enquiring while others thought it should have been handled more privately.
Speaking on Late & Live, Hallie’s mother said: ‘She knows when to stop it if a line gets crossed but she also knows that she does have to explain as well. Some people don’t know.’
Family: Big Brother star Hallie’s mother has spoken out in support of her daughter after she was asked about being transgender by fellow housemate Farida
Awkward: Farida, 50, was curious to know whether men who fancied Hallie, 18, (pictured) were considered to be gay, after admitting it is important to educate herself
Tense: Fans were divided over Farida’s ‘uncomfortable’ questions, with some praising her for enquiring while others thought it should have been handled more privately
Samantha didn’t criticise Farida however and noted the Wolverhampton native said before entering the house she wanted to learn new things.
She added: ‘Farida said when she was walking into the house that she wants to learn things, she wants to teach her own faith and culture.’
‘[Hallie has] handled it so well. She’s coming out just being herself and it’s lovely for the whole world to know the real Hallie that I know.
‘She’s very grown-up. She’s had to grow up fast. I had to bring her up fast to comply with the world that she’s going to be brought up in because of being trans.’
On Tuesday’s episode, Farida asked: ‘Hallie can I ask, me who you have relationships with…’ before Hallie cut her off and told her: ‘I haven’t had a relationship yet.’
Farida continued: ‘If a guy was to get with you would they be seen as gay?’
Hallie replied: ‘I won’t have sex until I have my full transition. There’s men out there who specifically like trans women, and there’s men out there that will just see me as a woman, and just be with me as a woman.’
She later discussed the moment with here fellow housemates, saying: ‘When Farida said to me, “if a man was to be with you does that make them gay?” I was like no I’m a woman, they like me like I’m a woman. She was all confused.’
Interview: Hallie’s mother Samantha appeared on Big Brother spin-off show Late & Live on Tuesday where she said her daughter ‘handled it so well’
New: Hallie was seen entering the show’s famous house on ITV on Sunday night as the programme returned to British television after a five year hiatus
Hallie then admitted Farida’s questions were ‘frustrating’ and added: ‘I was like, you need to chill out babe. If that made them gay I would be a man.’
Later on Farida and Hallie broke the ice, with Farida said: ‘The thing is that I don’t believe in bullying. I was just curious because I feel it’s my first opportunity… it’s a social experiment being in here. Different people celebrating their culture and what they’re about.’
Some viewers weren’t happy with the way Farida approached the topic, with one penning: ‘So much respect to Hallie for having a mature convo with Farida and not go off at someone who’s trying to learn but saying the wrong thing’
Another commented: ‘This is why it’s important to have these convos! Education is key. Hallie handled it so well!’
However, one fan said: ‘Why is it wrong for Farida to ask Hallie questions if she doesn’t understand? It’s not like she was asking in a disrespectful way’
Another added: ‘Very awkward convo, but I don’t see any ill intent in Farida asking Hallie questions she cleary stated she’d like to be educated and Hallie said she was open to discussing it!’
Hallie is not the first transgender housemate to appear on Big Brother – trans woman Nadia Almada won the show in in 2004 and trans man Luke Anderson triumphed in 2012.
Big Brother continues on Thursday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
BIG BROTHER 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS!
JENKIN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Barman
FROM: Bridgend
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? ‘Loud and messy, and irritating probably.’
TOM
AGE: 21
PROFESSION: Butcher
FROM: Somerset
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘I think I might potentially offend some people. My mouth moves faster than my brain.’
TRISH
AGE: 33
PROFESSION: Stay-at-home mum
FROM: Luton
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE PRIZE MONEY IF YOU WON? ‘I think my first priority is to sort out my housing situation. The housing crisis is just ridiculous and my housing situation has been unstable. It brings me a lot of mum guilt because I’ve got a young child. It’s my biggest incentive and motivation to win.’
JORDAN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Lawyer
FROM: Scunthorpe
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being cantankerous and acting as if I don’t want to be there even if I do in my heart. They might nominate me for being disengaged perhaps or not paying everyone an equal amount of attention. They may feel left out but I can’t help that.’
DYLAN
AGE: 39
PROFESSION: DJ
FROM: Coventry
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: ‘I appeared on a TV show called The Last Leg about amputees – two years before I lost my leg!’
NOKY
AGE: 26
PROFESSION: Banker
FROM: Derby
WHAT MADE YOU APPLY TO BECOME A BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATE? ‘I love challenges. I’ve had so many amazing times in my life, like going to Miss Universe as Miss Great Britain. I like to do something different and I think this is the next challenge I want to conquer. I want to show people what pageant girls are really like and disprove a lot of stereotypes around them. I also show what it’s like being a woman who’s worked in male- dominated fields. I want to show that women are capable of doing anything they want.’
PAUL
AGE: 23
PROFESSION: Security officer
FROM: Liverpool
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being the biggest wind up, eating all the food and being the loudest housemate.’
OLIVIA
AGE: 23
PROFESSION: Dancer
FROM: Glasgow
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘I think when people are in that hangry state, that’s when I’ll wind people up and grind their gears. I think they’ll nominate me for being full on, and for my brutal honesty and oversharing of opinions.’
FARIDA
AGE: 50
PROFESSION: Make-up artist
FROM: Wolverhampton
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF: ‘People are always surprised when I say I got married at 43. Or also that I’m an ex-holiday rep in Gran Canaria and Menorca.’
HALLIE
AGE: 18
PROFESSION: Youth worker
FROM: London
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? ‘Being lazy and having an opinion. I’m quite opinionated, I like speaking my mind and not many people like that. I’m quite real.’
YINRUN
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Customer support agent
FROM: Harrogate
WHAT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? ‘I’m most excited about being surrounded by so many people from different walks of life. I don’t think I will ever live in a house again with so many different kinds of people. I’m from China and I think it will help me be more immersed in British culture.’
CHANELLE
AGE: 29
PROFESSION: Dental therapist
FROM: Llanelli
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE NOMINATED FOR? ‘Probably just for being annoying. In Wales, we have this saying, “I’ll do it now in a minute.” So like, if I went to make food and I left a dish on the side, I have all good intentions of washing it but I’d be like, “I’ll do it now in a minute,” and it might be three hours later before I do it. So probably for silly stuff like that.’
ZAK
AGE: 28
PROFESSION: Model
FROM: Manchester
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE PRIZE MONEY IF YOU WON? ‘Pay off my debts and help my family out. I’ve also been saving up to build a park in my village back at home in Thailand because where I grew up, there’s no parks or playgrounds.’
MATTY
AGE: 24
PROFESSION: Doctor
FROM: Isle Of Man
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? ‘They would say I’m quite like a lucky person or someone who really wants to experience life to its fullest and do everything that it has to offer. Someone who is kind and fun and doesn’t take life too seriously.’
HENRY
AGE: 25
PROFESSION: Food writer
FROM: Cotswolds
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU? ‘I think they would say I’m particularly sociable and very chatty. I mean, I’ll be honest, my parents would definitely say I’m a bit of a snob but I take it as a compliment. I think it means you’ve got high standards and good taste. They’d say I was quite a peculiar child.’
KERRY
AGE: 40
PROFESSION: NHS manager
FROM: Essex
WHAT MADE YOU APPLY TO BE A BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATE? ‘I love the programme. It is, for me, the ultimate reality TV show ever. I’ve got multiple sclerosis and so the reason why I never applied before is because I always saw those whacking great big stairs to get into the house. It just felt a little bit unachievable because for the first three years of my illness I was in a wheelchair. When I saw it was coming back and searching for real people from all walks of life, I thought, this is my year.’