Former Big Brother housemate Daze Aghaji has ignited a social media debate after a contentious conversation on a recent television program about murdered politician Ann Widdecombe's legacy.
The 78-year-old Reform politician was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday morning, with counter-terrorism police leading the murder investigation amid new evidence.
Aghaji appeared on the program alongside Labour MP Jess Asato and Tory MP Nigel Huddleston, where she discussed Widdecombe's anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion track record during her long political career.
Aghaji stated, 'It's awful that she was murdered, especially being 78 as well. I think that's quite a sad way to go out. But I think there is a lot of controversy around how she lived her political life.'
She emphasized the importance of acknowledging Widdecombe's problematic views, saying, 'I'm a real believer that the values that we hold are the politics that we practice, and I feel like it would be amiss to not mention the fact that she pushed against LGBTQ+ rights throughout all of her career.'
Aghaji highlighted Widdecombe's comments on the victims of Harvey Weinstein during the Me Too movement, stating, 'She said a lot of things about the victims of Harvey Weinstein during Me Too. She said they chose it upon themselves, and she was vehemently anti-abortion.'
Her comments sparked a heated response from Huddleston, who labeled them 'completely inappropriate', saying, 'I think you will regret what you just said there.'
Aghaji pushed back, noting that she too is a Christian and does not share Widdecombe's views, but Huddleston suggested she should 'respect her views' regardless.
The conversation sparked a strong reaction on social media, with many viewers expressing support for Aghaji's balanced take on the situation.
One user wrote, 'It is possible to be sad that a person has died, be horrified in the way she died but also be critical of how her political actions adversely affected others.'
Another user praised Aghaji for not being 'derogatory' about Widdecombe, while a third expressed solidarity with Aghaji for speaking the truth.
