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British social media icon Big John Fisher is spending the night before his birthday in an Australian deportation hotel after a visa mishap.
After a 17-hour flight to Perth and going through passport control, the ‘Boshfather’ was pulled aside by border patrol.
Talking to Metro from his hotel room, John said: ‘The girl in immigration had several pages detailing things I’d been promoting that I used to be going to be doing while I’m in Perth.
‘I don’t hide what I’m doing after I’m there; never have.’
John had a series of meet-and-greets with fans arrange, something he’s done in Australia before. This time, border patrol flagged his tourist visa and said he wasn’t in a position to work while abroad.
He added: ‘The woman then said, “Your visa doesn’t allow other people to benefit from your work,” referencing the businesses I used to be working for.
‘Well, nobody told me!’
After offering to cancel all of his meet and greets and go on holiday, the lady left him within the room for 4 hours to deliberate before declining his stay, even without work events, he said.
Talking to Metro from a deportation hotel with ‘4 security guards’ outside his door, John said he was ‘manhandled’ out of the airport.
‘It wasn’t nice how I used to be treated. I like Australia and the Australians, but this has left a foul taste in my mouth,’ he added. ‘My birthday is tomorrow too.’
John does seem like in good spirits still, nonetheless, telling Metro his signature catchphrase: ‘Bosh.’
Metro has contacted the Foreign Office for an announcement.
The ‘Boshfather’ has previously travelled to Australia for fan events without issue. UK residents normally can’t work in Australia on a tourist visa, but short trips appear to have been tolerated up to now.
John, 51, was born in Whitechapel but has lived most of his life in Romford, east London.
John’s son Johnny, a boxer dubbed the ‘Romford Bull’, was ‘loads’ greater than his father on social media – but Big John’s platform took off because of his love for Chinese takeaway, and he’s never looked back.
Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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