'Big Brother 28' star Kamu Kirk under fire for Floyd joke
Big Brother 28 contestant and MMA fighter Kamu Kirk is under fire after a resurfaced Instagram video showed him mocking a person being arrested and joking about George Floyd's death. Alum Frankie Grande called for his immediate eviction as fans blasted CBS and demanded accountability. Coverage of the 8216big brother 288217 star uproar is spreading fast across social media and celebrity breaking news roundups.
Key Takeaways
- A December Instagram Stories clip of Kamu Kirk mocking an arrestee who said “I can’t breathe” has resurfaced.
- Kirk, 32, laughed and said, “Bro thinks he’s George Floyd,” while filming the arrest near his residence.
- “Big Brother” alum Frankie Grande called for Kirk’s immediate eviction from the Season 28 house.
- Fans have criticized CBS for casting the MMA fighter; the network did not immediately comment to Page Six.
- Kirk has also drawn ire this season over comments directed at drag-queen housemate Jason De Puy.
What did Kamu Kirk say in the resurfaced video?
According to Page Six, Kirk filmed his reaction to a person getting arrested near his residence and posted it to Instagram Stories in December. The clip remained visible in his profile highlights when the report published.
The person’s face is not visible. They can be heard screaming, “I can’t breathe,” and later, “I’m dying.” Kirk laughs and repeats, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” then says, “Bro thinks he’s George Floyd.”
He adds that people are “crazy” and that he is going back inside, smiling as he remarks he will “take that spot,” seemingly referring to the parking space the person had occupied.
George Floyd was killed in May 2020 when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine and a half minutes while Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Floyd was 46.
How are fans and Frankie Grande responding?
Viewers blasted Kirk on social media. One X post described the MMA fighter’s behavior as “racist as hell” and a “disgusting lack of empathy for another human being in distress.”
Another post argued Kirk was witnessing someone in distress in person, laughing, mocking Floyd, then filming, posting, and saving the moment to his highlights.
Some fans questioned whether CBS properly vetted Kirk’s social media before casting him on “Big Brother.” Page Six said it reached out to CBS and did not receive an immediate response.
Fans have also pointed to Kirk’s past likes of posts criticizing the Muslim religion and a post identifying as a Christian Nationalist.
On Thursday, openly gay “Big Brother” alum Frankie Grande—who has criticized Kirk’s treatment of Jason De Puy—posted the Floyd joke video on X and called for Kirk to be removed, writing that it was enough and asking how “this monster” was still in the house.
Has Kirk faced other controversy on Big Brother 28?
Yes. Kirk has been accused of homophobia this season. On Wednesday’s episode, he called De Puy—a drag queen who competed on Season 15 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”—a “zesty bestie.” Some viewers said “zesty” mocks men seen as flamboyant or effeminate.
Earlier this month on the live feeds, Kirk told “Survivor” alum Rick Devens he said, “Bro, miss me with the drag stuff,” adding he is “still an MMA guy” with “an image to uphold.”
Why does this backlash matter for the show?
The resurfaced video has intensified scrutiny of Kirk’s place in the Season 28 house and of CBS’s casting choices, turning a reality competition into a flashpoint over empathy, race, and accountability—exactly the kind of story driving today’s celebrity breaking news cycle.