It’s safe to say Ginuwine entered the U.K.’s latest season of Celebrity Big Brother with a bang. The R&B singer, who is among the cast of British and American celebritypes on the show, is stirring internet debate for his reaction to a transgender cast member attempting to steal a kiss.
In a clip from the show, which has been circulating the net, the R&B singer is seated along with television presenter, India Willoughby (who is a trans woman) during a discussion on transphobia.
Willoughby, 51, used Ginuwine as an example of men who wouldn’t date her after finding out that she is transgender. “You would date me, wouldn’t you?” she asks Ginuwine, 47, after maintaining that her intent was not to put him on blast.
“Not if you told me you were trans,” he replies.
After Willoughby clarifies that the father of seven would date her if she weren’t trans, he agrees before pulling a blanket over himself. Willoughby however, puts her arms around Ginuwine and attempts to kiss him on the cheek. He quickly pulls away and laughs nervously.
Willoughby, who is up for “eviction” from the CBB house, has been catching heat for claiming that she has a “phobia” of drag queens, and comparing them to minstrel shows, reports the Daily Mail. She also said that she would not date a woman.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_fu3j8SAL3g
As for Ginuwine, his comments about not wanting to date a trans woman have people defending, and blasting the Washington D.C. native. Willoughby is also being accused of sexual harassment.
Ginuwine not wanting to kiss India isn’t #transphobia but her trying to kiss him and then when declined she wants to call him out as #transphobic that’s SEXUAL HARASSMENT #BCC
— A. M. Ahmed (@chez_isaaq) January 9, 2018
D.L. Hughley entered the discourse with a tweet comparing Willoughby’s advances towards Ginuwine to Terry Crews being groped by a high-powered male talent agent.
So when #TerryCrews didn’t want a guy making an unwanted sexual advance he wasn’t a bigot but a hero! But #Ginuwine is transphobic? #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) January 9, 2018
Check out more tweets on the debate below.
if you have a sexual preference that discriminates against transgender men or transgender women, you are transphobic.
this is a fact.#ginuwine
— LGBTQIA #LoveWins (@CityTerrorism) January 9, 2018
India stop. Ginuwine must feel uncomfortable, they’ve only just met. And he’s not saying he thinks being trans is wrong, he’s just saying he’s not attracted to trans people. That’s his preference and that’s ok. India isn’t going to last if she keeps on like this. 😒👎 #CBB x
— Siobhan #WeLoveDom (@slinehan1) January 6, 2018
Wait…how are people mad because Ginuwine refused to kiss a trans woman? men don’t have a choice on who they kiss in the mouth or am i missing something ?
— Fam’ron Giles (@IAMKRIS24) January 9, 2018
Okay i dont mean to be offensive but why do trans and gays get offended, and try to get straight men in trouble if they aren’t attracted to them? #CBB #Ginuwine respect his sexuality if you want yours to be respected by others.
— Ling Xiaoyu (@goodbihgonebad) January 8, 2018
It’s one thing not wanting to kiss someone. It’s another if you would kiss them, but u don’t bc they’re trans. @Ginuwine you’re transphobic. I wish you nothing, but the worst and I hope this is the end of your 20+ years struggling career 🖕🏿
— pettywise (@chrisholmez) January 9, 2018
If Ginuwine isn’t attracted to trans people, it’s a sexual preference. Don’t call him transphobic for that. If he can’t get past it, then he can’t get past it. India should never try to force attraction on anyone, especially when Ginuwine has been nothing but respectful of India.
— Andrew (@HEELItUp) January 8, 2018