“Big Brother” cast member Luke Valentine has been removed from the show after using a racial slur on camera.
During a recent conversation with his fellow house guests, Valentine was heard saying the slur, according to video of the incident shared on social media. Seemingly realizing the offensiveness of his remark, Valentine attempted to backtrack his comment with the word “dude” instead.
CBS confirmed Valentine’s removal from the show in a statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday.
“Luke violated the ‘Big Brother’ code of conduct, and there is zero tolerance in the house for using a racial slur,” the network said. “He has been removed from the house. His departure will be addressed in Thursday night’s show.”
Valentine, a 30-year-old illustrator from Weston, Florida, joined the CBS reality-show for its 25th season, which premiered earlier this month. Describing himself as an “airhead’ and a “starving artist,” Valentine was confident in his ability to achieve “Big Brother” victory.
“I know I’m going to win ‘Big Brother’ because I got the hunger to win at all costs,” said Valentine in a clip shared to Instagram Aug. 5.
The long-running reality series follows a group of people living together in a house rigged with cameras and microphones capturing their every move. At the end of each week, one person is voted out of the house, with the last remaining house guest receiving the grand prize of $750,000.
The Season 25 premiere came on the heels of the recent "Big Brother 25th Anniversary Special," which teased exciting new games, house and cast for the series’ latest installment.
"I have no idea how many more years this is going to go on, but right now the way I'm feeling is that I hope it never ends," host Julie Chen Moonves said in the special.
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Contributing: Isabelle Butera, USA TODAY
