Emily Hewertson, a contestant on Big Brother UK 2025, faced significant public backlash after making critical remarks about the National Health Service (NHS) and discussing Northern Ireland’s relationship with the British government. The political events manager and conservative influencer described the NHS as a “religious cult” during a conversation with a fellow housemate, leading to widespread criticism from viewers on social media.
What Emily Said That Caused Controversy
The incident occurred during a conversation between Emily and fellow housemate Jenny Baird, who is from Derry. Their discussion began with the topic of a potential united Ireland. Jenny mentioned she was uncertain about how she would vote if given the choice, to which Emily enthusiastically responded, “My kind of woman! You should tell your friends not to vote too – no, I’m joking.”
When Jenny brought up healthcare and noted that Dublin doesn’t have access to the NHS, Emily shared her views on Northern Ireland’s relationship with Britain. “Northern Ireland are very prosperous under the British government, more than they would be otherwise. I’m just saying,” Emily stated.
She then shifted her focus directly to the healthcare system itself. “To be honest, I don’t think the NHS should be the dream, don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing, but compared to some other European health systems, it’s below par,” Emily commented. When Jenny defended the service, saying she believed the “NHS is brilliant,” Emily delivered the line that would trigger the backlash: “It’s become a religious cult unfortunately.”
How Viewers Reacted on Social Media
Social media platforms quickly filled with criticism from viewers who found Emily’s comments disrespectful. Many felt her words dismissed the hard work of healthcare professionals, while others took issue with her political stance on Northern Ireland.
One viewer tweeted: “Can we stop blowing smoke up Emily’s a**? She just said the NHS is a religious cult… not everyone can pay for private healthcare like you. Disgusting comment.” Another wrote: “Emily’s comment p**sed me off! THE NHS is a wonderful service…it’s just deeply underfunded.” A third described her comments as “vile.”
Others specifically challenged Emily’s perspective on Northern Ireland. One person asked: “Emily is saying Northern Ireland is very PROSPEROUS under the British government??” while another noted: “Emily is getting a little too comfortable with the anti Irish sentiment.”
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Emily’s Unusual Journey on Big Brother
Emily Hewertson’s path through the competition had been unusual even before the controversial comments. The 25-year-old Conservative party member from Northampton was originally evicted on her first day in the house in a twist that saw housemates Caroline Monk and Sam Ashby vote her out.
However, she returned to the house during the third week of the competition. Before entering Big Brother, Emily had built a following as a conservative influencer with over 160,000 followers on X and had made appearances on GB News. In her introductory video for the show, which focused heavily on her political beliefs, she described former Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a “teddy bear.”
The Aftermath and Public Response
The controversy emerged just as Big Brother UK was heading into its finale, with the timing proving particularly damaging for Emily’s prospects in the competition. The NHS remains a deeply cherished institution in Britain, and criticism of it typically generates strong public reaction.
While some social media users defended Emily’s right to criticize the NHS, with one commenting that the media does treat the service as “literally sacred,” the overwhelming response was negative. The incident demonstrated how quickly offhand comments inside the Big Brother house can escape into the wider public discourse and impact a contestant’s reputation.
The backlash against Emily continued a pattern of viewers reacting strongly to controversial housemates, with similar public outcry having occurred in previous seasons against contestants like Kerry Riches, who was evicted on a Halloween episode after crowds chanted “Get Kerry out!”
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Credits: mirror.co.uk, metro.co.uk
