10 March 2024 , 16:39
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The former mum-in-law of Gary Goldsmith has criticised Celebrity Big Brother for signing up the convicted abuser.
Maureen Brown, whose daughter Julie-Ann was beaten by her loudmouth ex, said she was astonished he had been given a platform on the ITV show. Goldsmith, whose niece is the Princess of Wales, pleaded guilty to assaulting his fourth wife Julie-Ann after a booze-fuelled row in 2017.
Maureen said: “He’s not a nice character. What sort of man hits a lady? He shouldn’t be benefiting after what he did.” On Friday, viewers saw Goldsmith, 58, become the first person to be booted out of the CBB house after loud boos erupted from the crowd whenever his name was mentioned.
Maureen, 84, added: “He was just there to stir the pot. He’s an unsavoury character. All they care about is the ratings.” Goldsmith – the younger brother of Princess Catherine’s mother Carole Middleton – caused a stir on the show with his comments about the royals. He also criticised Harry and Meghan and accused Meghan of “creating drama”.
Gary Goldsmith with his wife Julie-Ann Goldsmith (Internet Unknown)Goldsmith claimed she and Harry had thrown the Royal Family “under a bus” with their public attacks. Maureen’s comments echoed criticism by the charity Women’s Aid, which said signing Goldsmith up showed “a lack of awareness”. They said: “The producers should consider how his appearance will impact women who have survived domestic abuse and how they will feel watching him on TV every night.”
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Goldsmith, who made his fortune in recruitment, was once worth an estimated £30million. He attended Prince William ’s wedding to Catherine in 2011 and her sister Pippa Middleton ’s nuptials six years later. Goldsmith married Julie-Ann in 2012. Five years later, he was fined £5,000 for assaulting her outside their London home in a drunken quarrel. He has since publicly apologised, saying: “I’m not perfect and I made a mistake. The offence is long since spent, however my regret continues.”
A CBB spokesman said: “All housemates undertake training in language and behaviour before entering.”