“Big John Fisher” has taken to various platforms, including X and Instagram, to claim he was detained by Australian border force for four hours and is being sent back to the UK from Australia.
In a video uploaded to X yesterday, John said, “Right, I am in Australia, but bad news: I am flying home tomorrow, on my birthday. I have been detained by the border force for four hours and I am now in a holding hotel. My visa was legal coming in but they [border force] are not happy with what I am doing here.”
The social media star added: “So they are sending me home. So sorry Australia, sorry Perth, sorry Sydney, I won’t be at any of my appearances this weekend but please go and support the ones I was going to be at, because they are going to be good days.”
John told followers he would share further details when he returns home, saying, “To be truthful, I just want to get home now.” He is known for fast food reviews online and arrived in Australia on Tuesday for appearances in Perth and Sydney.
In posts on Instagram, he said he was questioned by border officials in the Western Australia city of Perth and was due to fly home on Wednesday, which is his birthday, at 6.30pm local time.
An Australian Border Force spokesperson said it did not comment on individual passengers because of “privacy obligations”. PA reports: “It is understood Fisher was travelling on an incorrect visa.”
The social media star, who has amassed more than 680,000 followers on Instagram, went viral for his love of Chinese takeaway and is best known for shouting the catchphrase “Bosh” in all of his videos. He regularly appears at restaurants, clubs and major events around the world.
His son Johnny Fisher, a British heavyweight boxer, posted on Instagram: “The Aussies have detained Big John and are sending him home – rumour has it they are frightened of his express pace bowling ahead of the Ashes.”
A new update posted by “Big John” this morning comes as he is set to depart Australia today. He told followers on X: “Hello everybody, just a quick update. First of all, thank you for all the birthday messages; it is so heartwarming and I have got so many I can’t get through them all.
He told followers the staff at his hotel had been “very good” and he has “no complaints” with them at all. He once again reiterated how sorry he was about his cancelled shows.
John said: “I am absolutely gutted I can’t come and see you all and I have had so many messages from Australian celebrities from MPs back home, from the BBC, Channel 9 News and Today Show Australia. I will answer all the questions when I get home; I want to get home.