Marco Pierre White Jr’s mother felt she was watching her son "die" before her eyes on ‘Big Brother’.
Mati Conejero, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of assaulting her sons – Luciano, 22, and Marco, 21 – on the doorstep of her west London home, has opened up about her reaction to her son’s controversial behaviour on the reality TV show, which included stripping off with redhead Laura Carter.
She said: "I broke down when I saw that for how lost he is.
"I feel so helpless that I can’t do anything, but how would you feel when your beautiful baby boy ends up a man covered in tattoos, with the word ‘Broken’ across his face."
Mati claimed that her son’s outrageous on-screen behaviour is a reflection of the chaotic lifestyle he lives outside the ‘Big Brother’ house.
She told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "In another scene on ‘Big Brother’ I saw him crying. Even at the time, I thought he was not distressed about ‘Big Brother’ – but about his life outside.
"I had hoped he might learn some lessons in there about what is and isn’t socially acceptable. But Mini doesn’t know any boundaries and now he’s in a place where he can’t control the situation. One of the girls on the show said he was like a six-year-old boy."
Mati confessed she fears there is no hope for her son.
She reflected: "What went through my mind when watching ‘Big Brother’ is that things won’t get any better for Mini. He was such a beautiful little boy. Even when he was naughty, he had a beautiful side – but now even that is lost. I honestly fear for his future.
"I don’t want to say bad things about my son, whom I love dearly. But I just don’t know what to do to help him. I worry it’s too late. The strangling thing was horrific to see, although I do think that ‘Big Brother’ was irresponsible to have shown it.
"As his mother, I don’t approve of ‘Big Brother’ showing him as a sexual predator. It tears me apart to say it, but I feel there’s no hope for him. Watching Big Brother is like watching my son die before my eyes."
Mati has denied the accusations made against her.