Vlogger Cameron Cole says he was the victim of a homophobic attack on his birthday.
Cole, who won Big Brother in 2018, at the age of 19, was celebrating his birthday when he claims he was targeted with “homophobia and slurs”. And after he was separated from his friends, he was physically attacked, leaving him with a black eye and cuts on his face.
On Friday (31 October), Cole posted details of the attack on Instagram. “I had a beautiful birthday surrounded by love, yet still came face-to-face with people who chose hate and violence,” he wrote.
“They targeted me with homophobia and slurs, and later attacked me when I was alone. It shook me. It made me feel vulnerable in a way no one should ever have to feel, especially not for just existing and being me.
“This isn’t just about me, or just about the LGBTQ+ community. It’s about every minority, every marginalised voice, everyone who has been told they don’t belong, the politics, the government, the people, they want to divide us but they will not win.”
However, the attack gave him “a fire to fight these people off”, he added. “You will not win. Keep trying but you will fail.”
‘I am hurting but I am fighting’
On Sunday (2 November), Cole posted again to say he had been “overwhelmed” by the “love and support” he’d received since Friday. “I am still here. I am hurting but I am fighting. I am reminding myself of how far I have come and I am not allowing this to undo everything I have worked so hard to heal.
“The messages, the love, the support, the people who checked in or just held space for me to feel what I needed to feel have meant everything. You have helped me feel less alone at a moment when I was slipping back into old darkness. Thank you for making me feel valued when I felt myself disappearing.”
He went on to say he wished “this kind of experience” was rare. “It should be, it is not, and that breaks my heart.”
His coming-out moment to his fellow housemates on the show left viewers in tear but, after leaving the house, he received a torrent of homophobic abuse.
Home Office figures, published last month, showed that there had been a two per cent increase in hate crimes in the year ending March 2025, compared with the previous 12 months.
If this story has affected you, call Galop, a UK anti-LGBTQ abuse charity providing expert support for domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, and conversion practices, on 0800 999 5428, from 9.15am on weekdays or email help@galop.org.uk any time.
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