British commentator Katie Hopkins has been deported from Australia after bragging about breaking hotel quarantine restrictions.
Hopkins, who has frequently sparked outrage for racist remarks, has arrived in Australia to participate in the reality TV show Big Brother Australia. In a since-deleted video on Instagram, she described answering the door naked and without a mask to hotel personnel delivering meals to her room.
Her remarks sparked outrage.
To avoid the spread of Covid-19, international visitors to Australia are forced to stay in isolation at a hotel. Quarantined individuals are not permitted to open their hotel room doors until 30 seconds after their meals have been delivered. They must also wear masks while their doors are open.
Hopkins said that she wanted to "call out" Australia's quarantine system and lockdowns.
On Monday, the Australian government confirmed it had canceled her visa after the TV program sacked her. She was fined A$1,000 (US$737) for not wearing a face mask, according to police, and was led to the airport to be flown back to the U.K.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews called Hopkins' comments "appalling" and a "slap in the face" for Australians in lockdown.
"Personally, I'm very pleased she'll be leaving," she told ABC.
Last year, the commentator was banned from Twitter for violating the platform's policy on hateful conduct. She has referred to migrants as "cockroaches" and Islam as "repugnant."
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Australia closed its borders in March 2020, preventing many citizens from returning. The policy has prolonged family separations. However, scores of celebrities, athletes and others with exemptions have been able to get around the rule.
Hopkin's travel to Australia sparked particular concern because it occurred at a time when the government had cut the number of Australian citizens and permanent residents permitted to return home each week in half down to 3,000.
