Despite facing political backlash, California Republican gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner has gone ahead with plans to appear on the upcoming season of Big Brother VIP, which is taking place in Australia.
Jenner’s appearance on the reality program sparked backlash both at home and abroad. Her campaign described the appearance as a ‘work commitment’ and defended herself when landing in Australia.
“My campaign team is in full operation as am I,” Jenner tweeted on July 16. “I am in this race to win for California because it is worth fighting for.”
Australians who are forbidden from leaving the country due to COVID protocols accused the reality star turned politician of receiving special treatment. Once landing, Jenner used the chance to say she is honoring a ‘work commitment’ saying she is still in the race.
“I am honoring a work commitment that I had made prior to even deciding to run for governor,” Jenner said in another tweet. “There is no pause at all on this race to save CA!”
Jenner has reportedly been paid $500,000 AUD ($367,736) to appear on the show. Reports would later surface she had been struggling financially according to her publicly released tax records.
Critics slammed Jenner’s decision to leave the country with California’s recall election set for September 14. The 71-year-old has just 6% in the latest polls taken and questions surrounding how long she will be away have been swirling.
Anyone who enters Australia must quarantine for two weeks and then there is the filming of the show. FWRD AXIS has learned production for Big Brother VIP got underway on July 30, three days ahead of schedule.
A source close to the Channel Seven show spoke exclusively to FWRD AXIS about Jenner’s appearance and said her stay on the show will not prevent her from returning to the campaign trail.
“She has a secret contract that will see her leave early,” two individuals with knowledge of the cast said. “She is hired for the ‘noisy launch’ and then will be gone just as quickly.”
These people spoke to FWRD AXIS on the condition of anonymity because Channel Seven has not officially released information regarding who is on the show.
This would be in line with Jenner’s spokesperson, who said she would be back in time for a “bus tour” across California before the election.
FWRD AXIS reached out to Channel Seven for comment but they did not confirm Jenner’s appearance on the show.
“We are not commenting on speculation about the cast of Big Brother VIP,” a Channel Seven spokesperson said. “All will be revealed soon and Big Brother is looking forward to meeting the new collection of housemates.”
