It was the true definition of car crash television, as Angie Bowie delivered the news of her ex-husband David Bowie's death to fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Simply stating "David's dead" and telling Tiffany that he had passed away due to cancer, what happened next is being described by many as the worst case of crossed wires in reality television history.
Credit: Channel 5
Thinking that her fellow housemate David Gest - who was in bed under the covers at the order of Big Brother due to feeling unwell - had died in the Diary Room, Tiffany became hysterical. Angie, thinking this was her reaction to the death of Bowie, pleaded with Tiffany to remain calm, as she didn't want the entire house to know about her former husband's death just yet, hoping to first wrap her own head around what had gone on.
Rushing out to the garden in tears, Tiffany said "I can't keep this a secret" and told her fellow housemates that Angie had told her David Gest had died in the Diary Room. Everybody immediately rallied around Tiffany before rushing to the bedroom, discovering that Gest was indeed alive and well. Danniella Westbrook then went to speak to Angie in the bathroom, who cleared up that she was talking about Bowie, but by that point Tiffany was intent on having it out with the woman she thought had lied to her.
At one point Kristina Rihanoff and John Partridge mentioned that they felt 'unsafe' around Tiffany, with various housemates stating they'd leave the house if Tiffany didn't voluntarily quit. However, what cause they had to feel unsafe around Tiffany wasn't established - she was simply a woman who thought she had a horrendous trick played on her, with her head all over the place, refusing to listen to an explanation. When the mixup was explained, it was in a conversation Tiffany was not a part of, and so for a good part of the day's events, Tiffany either thought David Gest had died or that Angie Bowie was playing a cruel trick.
Later after allowing the whole situation to sink in, Tiffany realised she was in the wrong when it came to her reaction and so took it upon herself to apologise to Angie, who graciously accepted the apology and gave her own, admitting she should have been clearer about who it was who had died.
"I'm sorry for your loss," said a beaten-looking Tiffany, with only Angie, Gemma Collins and Nancy Dell'Olio giving her the time of day. When she later asked Kristina if she would like help with the drying up, the professional dancer refused, and when she offered some tea or coffee that was also thrown back in her face.
Some viewers are accusing Partridge of racial stereotyping, as he claimed Tiffany was only apologising because 'she was hungry and wanted some chicken'. It's unclear what the housemates were actually preparing for their dinner that night.
Meanwhile Gemma Collins is being praised for offering Tiffany advice on how she should go forward in the house now that she hasn't got many people on her side. Whether or not she'll be able to get on with her fellow housemates for the remainder of her stay is yet to be seen.
Celebrity Big Brother continues daily on Channel 5, with the next live eviction on Friday, January 15.
Tagged in David Bowie Celebrity Big Brother