Holly Valance Condemned for Derogatory Language on Live Television
Former pop star and actress Holly Valance has ignited a fierce controversy following her appearance on GB News, where she used a highly offensive slur during a live broadcast. The incident occurred on Monday evening during an episode of Free Speech Nation, leaving host Josh Howie visibly stunned and prompting an immediate on-air apology.
Host Forced to Intervene During Tense Exchange
Valance, who has transitioned from her entertainment career to become a right-wing campaigner, made the derogatory remark while discussing Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 42-year-old stated: "During Covid was the big like tester to see.. like the r****d meter. And Australia was quite high on that."
Host Josh Howie quickly interjected, telling viewers: "Sorry for using that word, that's ok, but it's ok, you used that word, I think some people, unfortunately, might be offended." When Valance attempted to defend her language by asking "Hey, are we not a Free Speech Nation over here?" Howie responded: "You're right, you've got me there, we're Free Speech Nation apart from that word!"
Social Media Erupts in Anger Over 'Disgusting' Comments
Since the clip aired, social media platforms have been flooded with criticism directed at the Australian-born star, who now resides in the United Kingdom and supports Reform UK. One user described her comments as coming from "some irrelevant trying to stay relevant," while another stated: "It was a derogatory term for people with mental disabilities and is/was out of favour."
A particularly passionate response read: "It is a horrid word. You should hope that you never have children with special needs - because those who do really understand why it is not an ok word to use in conversation. It shows your lack of vocabulary frankly." Another commenter branded the term a "disgusting word, slandering intellectually disabled people" and urged Valance to "do better."
Controversy Follows Recent Music Ban
The television appearance came shortly after Valance's latest single, Kiss Kiss (XX) My A**e, was temporarily removed from Apple Music. The track, which features in Pauline Hanson's new film A Super Progressive Movie, includes lyrics that target "snowflakes" and contains provocative lines about gender identity, including: "You will respect my pronouns" and "Not all ladies have ovaries, some... have a penis."
Despite the controversy, the song briefly shot to the top of Australian charts, outperforming tracks by Olivia Dean and Harry Styles before being pulled from the streaming platform. Valance claims she received no prior warning about the removal, discovering the news through social media platform X. She told GB News: "We never received any email officially from iTunes or Apple or anybody, so I was like 'What's going on?'"
Valance Embraces Backlash as 'Perfect' Publicity
In a surprising admission, Valance revealed that the backlash surrounding her music has been beneficial for her career. She stated: "That's how I wanted it to go, because it gave us free PR, people got up in arms about it, backed me, backed the project, backed Pauline. It helped the film."
The former Neighbours star, who now identifies as an "anti-woke" campaigner, continues to generate headlines with her provocative statements and musical projects. Her latest television appearance has reignited debates about appropriate language on broadcast media and the boundaries of free speech in contemporary discourse.
