UK Big Brother Winner Shares Black Eye After Reported Homophobic Attack
Trigger warning: violence.
Cameron Cole, who won Big Brother in 2018, says he was confronted with slurs, then attacked while celebrating his birthday. He posted a photo of his bruised, cut face on Instagram and wrote that people “targeted me with homophobia and slurs, and later attacked me when I was alone.” He added that the incident left him shaken and feeling vulnerable.
Cole was the winner of Channel 5’s Big Brother in the United Kingdom and, at 19, the youngest winner in the franchise’s UK history. He’s now 26 and works as a content creator.
The story lands as Big Brother is gearing up for a high-profile Australian return this November 2025, with a renewed push to recapture the early live-format energy. Public conversations about safety, harassment and how fans rally around former housemates are part of that comeback moment.
“I had a beautiful birthday surrounded by love, yet still came face-to-face with people who chose hate and violence,” Cole wrote on Instagram, alongside the photo of his injuries. He said he shared the update to raise awareness and push back against hate aimed at LGBTQIA+ people and other marginalised groups.
Cole’s post does not specify the location or further details about the assailants. Several outlets reported on the incident after his Instagram update. If police statements or charges are released, we’ll update with verified information only.
