Former world boxing champ Evander Holyfield has rattled a few cages in the Celebrity Big Brother house by suggesting that homosexuality was a disability that can “be fixed”.

The boxer, perhaps best known as being Mike Tyson’s chew toy in 1997, responded to fellow BB contestant Luisa Zissman about how he that believes gay athletes coming out of the closet was pointless.

He ranted,

“What would be good about it? That ain’t normal. It is a choice, come on, that ain’t the way nobody is made.

‘If you were born and your leg were [sic] turned this way, what do you do, you go to the doctor and get it fixed back, right?

“All I’m trying to say, you know handicap people are born, you can’t say because they are born that way you can’t fix them.”

 

Luisa responded by insisting that being gay was not a choice and that having that conversation in the house was “bad”.

Soon after Holyfield’s comments were aired, a Twitter-storm ensued, with celebrities and many members of the public tweeting their disgust.

Shame, I had such admiration for Mr Evander Holyfield, he seemed dignified and I was sure he was a cool, smart, giant!

— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) January 5, 2014

Being gay ‘ain’t normal’ says a man who has spent his life being fisted in the ring. Nice one @holyfield#CBB

— Dr Christian Jessen (@DoctorChristian) January 6, 2014

 

Big Brother bosses have since reprimanded the 51 year-old, and he has apologised for his remarks.

Ewin Holyfield, the boxer’s 23 year-old son has defended his father’s opinions, saying, “My dad is the most loving and caring person you will ever meet. He treats everyone like a human being … even if they are homosexual.”

Watch the clip of Evander Holyfield’s conversation with Luisa Zissman below.