Meghan Markle's Brother Thomas Jr. May Join 'Big Brother VIP' As He Arrives To Begin Hotel Quarantine After Katie Hopkins' Deportation

Jul 22, 2021 by apost team

Days after Australian officials deported Katie Hopkins, who was slated to appear on “Big Brother VIP” on Australia’s Channel Seven, Meghan Markle’s half brother, Thomas Markle Jr., was reportedly spotted in the country by staff at Sydney Airport on Thursday. Although Channel Seven has refused to comment on the specific casting decisions of the show, it seems likely that Hopkins has been deported and dropped from the reality TV series’ lineup after bragging about not adhering to Australia’s quarantine rules.

“Big Brother” is a Dutch reality TV franchise, which has shows across the world from Big “Brother Albania” to “Bigg Boss” in India. Since its creation in 1999, the show boasts 448 seasons and over 54 franchises in many languages. The successful series centers around a group of people who live in a specially constructed house that is fitted with hidden cameras and microphones — hence the show’s name. Throughout the show, contestants, who participate in activities, are voted out. The final person standing wins a cash prize.

According to Channel Seven News, “Big Brother VIP” will come out later this year, be hosted by Sonia Kruger and feature a variety of celebrities, which might include Thomas Jr.

Meghan and Thomas Jr. have the same father, Thomas Markle, a retired lighting director who worked in Hollywood. However, Meghan has kept her distance from both her half brother and her father in the wake of reports that Thomas worked with the paparazzi ahead of her wedding, going as far as staging photos for his own monetary gain.

As to Thomas Jr.’s apparent addition to the show, a Channel Seven Spokesperson told the Daily Mail Australia that the outlet would not be “commenting on speculation about the cast of Big Brother VIP.”

“All will be revealed soon and Big Brother is looking forward to meeting the new collection of housemates,” the spokesperson added in the interview with Daily Mail Australia.

According to Metro, while it may seem like Thomas Jr. is Hopkins’ replacement, he might have also been a part of the show from the beginning. Caitlyn Jenner, the Kardashian star and retired Olympic athlete, is also rumored to be part of “Big Brother VIP’s” cast after she was seen at a quarantine hotel in Australia.

Metro further reports that Thomas Jr. is likely able to enter the country in spite of strict entry requirements thanks to a critical skills visa. Australia has been under a strict lockdown, which includes stringent entry restrictions, for a significant portion of the pandemic.

In the aforementioned interview with the Daily Mail Australia, the Channel Seven spokesperson addressed criticisms that celebrities were allowed to enter the country while some Australian citizens have not been able to enter due to the country’s pandemic regulations.

“Any international artists associated with Seven are on arrangements that exist outside of the flight cap on international arrivals and have been granted exemptions by the government to come here. All our artists also undertake quarantine measures in line with government legislation,” the spokesperson said.

“Much like the arrival of world-class international actors bolstering Australia’s film industry at present, these artists are contributing to the making of leading TV productions, creating jobs for many people at a difficult time for the creative and production sectors,” Channel Seven’s spokesperson added.

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Although Thomas Jr. may star on the show as one of these “world-class international actors,” his half sister Meghan is arguably more well-known. Not only has Meghan had an acting career, appearing on the show “Suits,” but she’s also been in the spotlight since her marriage to Prince Harry and her subsequent addition to the royal family. But even though Markle and her half brother seem to share aspects of their careers, the two are reportedly estranged. As The Los Angeles Times reports, Meghan’s father claims that his daughter “ghosted all of her family.”

“So (Meghan) really had no one to reach out to. She would’ve had us, if she’d kept us,” Thomas told “Good Morning Britain” following Meghan’s controversial March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

In her interview with Winfrey, Meghan said that she felt as if she grew up as an only child despite having a half brother and half sister.

“I don’t feel comfortable talking about people that I really don’t know,” Markle said after Winfrey asked her about half sibling Samantah Markle. “I grew up as an only child, which everyone who grew up around me knows, and I wished I had siblings. I would have loved to have had siblings.”

Thomas Jr. had similarly harsh words for his half sister when he spoke to the Australian magazine New Idea in March 2020.

“Being associated with Meghan has nearly destroyed me,” Thomas Jr. told New Idea, explaining that his half sister’s notoriety has made it difficult for him to find a job.

On the other hand, Meghan has criticized her father for selling photos and giving interviews to the tabloid press, which Thomas has since admitted to, according to The Los Angeles Times.

What do you think of Thomas Jr.’s possible role on “Big Brother VIP”? Did you know that he has a fraught relationship with Meghan? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and family members.