Celebrity Big Brother’s Ryan Thomas has been issued an official warning after co-star Roxanne Pallett complained he’d “punched” her.
The former Coronation Street actor was summoned to the diary room by Big Brother, where he was reprimanded for hurting Roxanne while “play fighting” and warned he would be removed from the show if it happened again.
Ryan said there was “no malice or anger in anything I did”.
Ex-Emmerdale star Roxanne had earlier told Big Brother she was upset by what happened, asking if she could speak to a member of production.
She said: “I need to speak to a member of production about something that’s made me feel really uncomfortable and I don’t want to go any further and talk on camera about something like this.”
In tonight's #CBB, Roxanne complained to Big Brother because in this scene Ryan was "violent" towards her.. OOOOOOKKKKKK
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/Qsf27TLc8A— Matt Rogers (@mattsyourlot) August 30, 2018
In tears in the diary room, Roxanne said she was in shock, adding: “I’m just a little bit in shock. I went from being upset to being angry, because a boy has punched me repeatedly unprovoked, he actually punched me like a boxer would punch a bag.
“And we weren’t play fighting, there was no banter, it wasn’t a joke, there was no exchange.”
Read more: CBB’s Rodrigo Alves issues new statement on leaving the show
Big Brother told Roxanne the footage was being reviewed and the matter was being “taken very seriously”.
“I can’t believe you’re letting someone stay who did that,” said Roxanne, bursting into tears. “It’s not okay.”
Roxanne asked to sleep in a separate bedroom because she was “suffering” and “didn’t feel comfortable” sleeping in the same room as Ryan.
“I am now suffering and having to alter my experience because somebody else was violent,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re letting him stay. It’s awful.”
After being called to the diary room, Ryan was told: “Before you entered the Big Brother house, rules regarding unacceptable behaviour were explained to you. You have broken this rule.
“At 3.55pm today, Big Brother noticed that whilst almost play fighting, you punched Roxanne in the ribs.
“This caused Roxanne to say ‘ow, that bloody hurt’. Whether you intended to hurt Roxanne or not is irrelevant. Do you understand what you did was unacceptable?”
Ryan said: “From your point of view, yes, but I think we both know, and Roxanne, that there was no malice or anger in anything I did.”
He apologised.
Big Brother said: “Big Brother is issuing you with a formal warning in regards physical contact in the house.
Read more: Roxanne Pallett divides CBB fans with “attention-seeking” behaviour
“Any repetition, and Big Brother may have no choice but to remove from the house.”
Elsewhere in the episode housemates including Nick Leeson, Hardeep Singh Kohli and Gabby Allen revealed they have become irritated with Pallett’s “attention seeking” behaviour.
The whole incident generated a lot of discussion on Twitter, with many viewers – and Ryan’s loved ones – expressing outrage.
His girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh urged viewers to complain to Ofcom, while brother Scott Thomas accused Roxanne of “trying to damage my brother’s reputation.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnHm6LoBw8G/?taken-by=ryanthomas84
A message sent from Ryan’s official Instagram after the episode aired read: “From the moment he walked in he’s just kept smiling and bringing the positive energy as much as possible! From his over the top reactions to his crazy laugh he’s been nothing but good fun!
“What happened tonight was ridiculously unfair and it’s actually scary to see how another individual can try and actively tarnish someone’s character! But thankfully the footage is there for everyone to see. Don’t let them dampen your light brother! Keep shining.”
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Channel 5.
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