“Are you judging us?”: The Block contestants lash out at Scott Cam for homophobic remarks
The Block’s Mitch and Mark have hit out at host Scott Cam over his “inappropriate and offensive” comments.
On last night’s episode, Cam’s delivery of the judges’ feedback on El’ise and Matt’s bedroom design turned into a tense exchange after the host referred to Mitch and Mark’s third level living room as a “party room” and house 1 as the “noisy” neighbours.
After Cam told the pair that the other team had adjusted their plans “to get away from the noisy people in your place”, Mark interjected.
“There’s no noisy people,” Mark said. “People need to cope with the fact that there are multiple living spaces in all metropolitan homes and they need to actually step away from it because they have no idea.”
Mitch added, “It is a living space as any house in any suburban part of Australia has. And if they’re making a judgement about us – because they’ve often said, ‘People like us’ – I need to understand what does that mean? Are you judging us?”
“You need to step away from that,” Mark told Cam.
The TV presenter responded, “I don’t need to step away from nothing, mate … I’m the one reading the feedback. I don’t think it’s wrong, but anyway.”
The scene has divided viewers, with many agreeing that Cam should apologise to the couple for what they saw as homophobic remarks.
Go Mitch and Mark. Stand up to that nonsense. It has connotations. It isn't funny. Complicit. It implies a lot #TheBlock
— Rue (@Rudoxxx) September 8, 2019
The blatant homophobia on The Block is getting a little too much and a little too frequent. Quite disappointing. #theblock #theblockAU pic.twitter.com/evxrcYZhL0
— Troy Lester (@TroyLester) September 8, 2019
Scotty Cam’s comment (and it was his comment, not the judges) was casual homophobia. Disappointing because I love #TheBlock. Very proud of #MitchandMark for standing up for themselves.
— Brodi Lucas (@brodilucas) September 8, 2019
Hearing Scotty, an old straight white guy made a dig at the one gay couple #TheBlock pic.twitter.com/5ta7REeji3
— Weslee (@WSpark98NZ) September 8, 2019
If Mitch and Mark were any other couple on #theblock, that room would be described as a ‘parents retreat’ or living area. Let’s all move on. It’s a room with a couch. #TheBlockAU
— Loren (@leapinloren) September 8, 2019
Mitch later said in a to-camera interview, “I find these comments inappropriate and offensive and I’d rather just leave that alone. I’d rather just leave it alone totally.”
In an episode aired last Monday, Mitch claimed Cam had made similar comments in other occasions. “Scott Cam has said to me, ‘This is a party house, for people like … us’,” the Sydneysider told producers.
“I don’t know what he means. Is he making a judgement about gay people? That because of our age, and that we’re gay, that we’re going to be partying? If he’s making a judgement like that, when he doesn’t know who we are, then that’s a homophobic comment.”