The current season of Celebrity Big Brother has been severely lacking in romance.
Yet one will they/won’t they situation proving to be a vast talking point over the last four weeks was the friendship between Courtney Act/Shane Jenek and Andrew Brady.
With Courtney crowned the winner on Friday evening’s episode, the former Ru Paul’s Drag Race star shed light on the ‘bromance’ to MailOnline, declaring that people are too obsessed with labels.
‘Gay boy, straight man, cuddling. It wasn’t sexual!’ CBB winner Courtney Act on Andrew Brady being ‘in the closet’, Ann’s ‘dangerous’ views and how his victory is akin to Brexit
‘People are so quick to go “he’s gay, he’s in the closet”. We both loved [our relationship] and didn’t really care. And Andrew certainly doesn’t have any f**ks to give!’
Courtney playfully insisted that he doesn’t have a crush on the former Apprentice star – and that it’s the other way around.
‘I think it was hard for Andrew, being in love with me and having it unrequited,’ he laughed. ‘It was lovely to be reunited with him [on eviction night].
‘It’s often that I’m doing a fabulous event and having a good time by proxy. You don’t have a friend you can share it with. So it was special to have him there when I came out of the house, so I could look over and see him.’
Purely platonic: One will they/won’t they situation proving to be a vast talking point over the last four weeks was the friendship between Courtney /Shane J and Andrew
Congratulations: With Courtney crowned the winner on Friday evening’s episode, the former Drag Race star shed light on the ‘bromance’, declaring that people are obsessed with labels
Together again: Courtney expressed that he has a crush on Andrew while in the house, and was devastated when he was evicted
Courtney expressed that he has a crush on Andrew while in the house, and was devastated when he was evicted.
‘I know what it’s like to be in unrequited love,’ he admitted. ‘I had to check myself to make sure I wasn’t looking pathetic. But it was the same for him. We were both puppy-dogging about each other.
‘But it wasn’t sexualised. I think it might be something that only the two of us understand. Gay boy and straight man, cuddling – it doesn’t need it be more than what it just was.’
Courtney insisted that, despite the sudden lack of cameras, there was no funny business at the wrap party.
Just friends? ‘I know what it’s like to be in unrequited love,’ he admitted. ‘I had to check myself to make sure I wasn’t looking pathetic. But it was the same for him. We were both puppy-dogging about each other’
Freedom: Courtney insisted that, despite the sudden lack of cameras, there was no funny business at the wrap party
‘I went to the after party. Had a few drinks, a twirl on the dance floor. Then I went back to my hotel room last night at 3AM… alone!’ he said.
Runner-up to Courtney was Anne Widdecombe, who he fundamentally disagreed with while inside the CBB house. And since being evicted last week, Andrew has hit out against the former politician and branded her ‘homophobic’.
‘Ann holds dangerous opinions, but you don’t get anywhere trying to sensationalise her comments as more than they are,’ Courtney said, in response to this. ‘Her views on marriage equality, the age of consent – on paper they are homophobic.
‘It is an outdated argument. It’s like saying black and white people can’t get married. But we aren’t going to change Ann’s opinion. She doesn’t intend it to [come across] that way. Often with bigotry it’s passive not active.’
Out and about: Runner-up to Courtney was Anne Widdecombe, who he fundamentally disagreed with while inside the CBB house
Hitting back: Since being evicted last week, Andrew has hit out against the former politician and branded her ‘homophobic’
Ann also refused to refer to Courtney as Courtney, opting instead to call him Shane.
‘It’s taken me 32 years to get used to it, so Ann wont get it overnight,’ Courtney went on. ‘Courtney is a part of me. Ann wasn’t telling Courtney that she didn’t exist, she was telling kids and mothers that “who you are isn’t right” and that can be damaging to hear from someone you respect.
‘I just wanted to show young people you can be you and wear what you want. And Ann is a bit like your grandmother at Christmas who doesn’t approve of your lifestyle… or anything!
‘She has spent 23 years in Parliament voting against some of the human rights of her fellow human beings.’
Not budging: ‘Ann holds dangerous opinions, but you don’t get anywhere trying to sensationalise her comments as more than they are,’ Courtney said. ‘Her views on marriage equality, the age of consent – on paper they are homophobic’
Staunch views: Ann also refused to refer to Courtney as Courtney, opting instead to call him Shane
Musing on why Ann made it to second place overall, Courtney said: ‘I know that the UK loves a villain. And it was a lot more interesting with her in there. If she had won it though, that would be a statement that people support her views.
‘Some people do, but most people don’t. I just wanted to help to move the world in the way it was already heading but a little bit faster.
In the end, 33 percent of the final vote went to Ann, with Courtney scooping 49 percent.
A statement in equality: ‘If Brexit can happen – Courtney Act can win CBB 2018!’ Courtney said
Courtney revealed that Ann did indeed refer to him by his drag name during the finale: ‘She actually did keep calling me Courtney – which is one small step for drag, and one giant leap for Ann-kind.’
Of the fact that a man – albeit in drag – has won the Year of the Woman season of CBB, Courtney said: ‘It is ironic that a man has won. I thought that a woman should win. And I didn’t think it was ever possible for me to win.
‘But in some ways Ann was right when she said me winning is a statement for equality. And if Brexit can happen – Courtney Act can win CBB 2018!’