Reality television personality Laura Carter has spoken out about her 2016 appearance on Big Brother, describing the experience as "toxic" and stating that it left her "broken." Carter also voiced significant regret over her televised relationship with Marco Pierre White Jr., the son of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.
During an appearance on RESET The Pod, Carter detailed the mental health toll the show had on her, particularly highlighting her intimate moments with White Jr. Their on-screen sexual encounters generated numerous complaints to broadcast regulator Ofcom. Carter characterized these moments as "a regret that I have to live with for the rest of my life."
She contrasted Big Brother with other reality shows like Geordie Shore and Love Island, where similar behavior was, in her view, "championed." Carter stated that Big Brother was "not a show that you do that on," especially given that White Jr. had a fiancée outside the house at the time, though he claimed to have a "hall pass" for his actions within the show.
Carter recalled White Jr. making explicit comments and requests during their time in the house. She described feeling immense distress and that the producers "didn't have to show it." She also noted that the camera work, particularly zooming in on her face, amplified the intimacy of the scenes.
Following her exit from the show, Carter experienced severe anxiety and social anxiety. "Everything that happened on Big Brother made me very ill," she stated, describing herself as being "racked with anxiety" and afraid of judgment from others. At her lowest point, she weighed approximately 40 kg (about 6.5 stone), visibly underweight.
Carter's pre-Big Brother notoriety included claims of a threesome with Justin Bieber in 2015. Professionally, she reported a drastic career downturn after the show, going from earning up to £40,000 per day for commercial work to relying on benefits. She found a financial turnaround through the platform OnlyFans, which she credits with saving her life.
