10,000 complain over the 'racists' of Big Brother

 

By PAUL REVOIR - More by this author » Last updated at 22:39pm on 16th January 2007

Jo O'Meara, Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd have been making fun of Shilpa's Indian accent

 

 

In the Celebrity Big Brother house Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty seems to have very few friends.

But outside the confines of Channel 4's reality TV show, she has almost 10,000.

That's the number of angry viewers who have complained on her behalf, accusing her housemates of racism and bullying.

Ofcom, the broadcasting standards watching, has received more than 7,600 complaints about Miss Shetty's treatment on the show.

Another 2,000 irate viewers have contacted Channel 4 by phone and email.

A member of the public has also complained to the police.

The Hertfordshire force, which covers the set in Elstree where the programme is filmed, said it would investigate if Ofcom decided the behaviour seen on the show was a criminal matter or an incitement to a crime.

Contestants Jade Goody, former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd and former popstar Jo O'Meara have been accused of repeatedly mocking Miss Shetty's accent and background.

Miss Goody's boyfriend Jack Tweedy, who is also on the show, referred to Miss Shetty with a four-letter word which was censored out during a late-night conversation, prompting rumours he had called her a 'Paki'. Channel 4 strenuously denies this.

Miss Shetty, 31, has been in tears over the way she is being treated by fellow contestants.

Race watchdogs are encouraging viewers to complain to Channel 4 about her ordeal while the Commission for Racial Equality has branded comments made about miss Shetty as 'distasteful'.

Growing anger at Miss Shetty's treatment has spawned an online petition, which has attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

It calls for Channel 4 to stop Miss Shetty being the victim of racism on the programme and insists the channel must stop 'sugar-coating' the offensive remarks.

The number of complaints to Ofcom and Channel 4 jumped from 200 to 10,000 in less than a day.

Miss Goody, Miss Lloyd and Miss O'Meara have been seen in countless scenes picking on Miss Shetty.

As Miss Shetty bleached her facial hair, Miss Lloyd asked: 'Do you get stubble?' Miss O'Meara laughed and added: 'Like a man!'

Miss Lloyd then told Miss Goody, who is of mixed race herself: 'She wants to be white' and later declared: 'She's a dog'.

Miss O'Meara has done impressions of Miss Shetty's accent and complained she had touched housemates' food.

'They eat with their hands in India, don't they - or is that China?' asked Miss Lloyd, adding with a sneer: 'You don't know where her hands have been.'

This follows on from Miss Goody's mother and fellow contestant Jackiey Budden repeatedly referring to Miss Shetty as 'the Indian'.

Comedienne Meera Syal attacked Channel 4 for not taking action.

'They have made a rather bland statement about condemning racism of any kind,' she said. 'But I am just wondering if on their last series, for example, the Tourette's sufferer had been called a "spaz" on a regular basis, whether they would have let that continue.'

She was talking on radio station BBC Asian Network, which has received 800 calls from listeners expressing dismay about the show.

Former Big Brother contestant Narinder Kaur called on Channel 4 to evict the three women.

'It's gone beyond that very thin line of what is racism and what isn't,' she said. 'It is disgusting and I am quite flabbergasted that three grown women can sit there and be so ignorant.'

Labour MP Keith Vaz has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons about Miss Shetty's treatment.

'We would not tolerate this kind of racism on other types of television programme and we should not do so on a programme that is watched by millions,' he said.

A Celebrity Big Brother spokesman said: 'The social interactions and dynamics of the group are one of the key parts of the Big Brother story...however this is balanced with our duty not to broadcast material that may cause unjustifiable offence.

'Big Brother does not tolerate bullying or racist abuse in any form. Big Brother is closely monitoring all the housemates and will take appropriate measures where necessary.'

In 2005 a TV broadcast of Jerry Springer - The Opera attracted the most complaints ever, with 45,000 viewers contacting the BBC.

Useless news... IMO.

^You have no idea because you don't live in the UK.:rolleyes:

because you don't live in the UK.

 

I am glad I don't! ahem.

Answering questions sent in to the BBC he said there was "a great regulator called the off button", adding that people had to "take responsibility".

 

Good quote from the future PM of England, Mr. Cameron

I heard about this.... what do they plan on doing?

I heard about this.... what do they plan on doing?

 

They should pull the plug and axe the show forever. No "good" could ever have come from letting awful Jade and her disfunctional family on the programme.

It's an absolute disgrace in every way imaginable!!:angry:

why dont they make the people who made them comments leave the house?

why dont they make the people who made them comments leave the house?

 

Money............................

how silly is that.

 

but yeah many people who complain are probably watching. :dozey:

 

its not really surprising though. those thing happen everyday, so why wouldnt they happen in the big brother house.

 

but then again if they know how those people act, they should make them leave the house!

Big Brother and a diplomatic storm

 

Last updated at 22:16pm on 17th January 2007 Comments

Centre of what is rapidly turning in to an international row: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty

 

 

 

Britain's crisis issues - from the Iraq War to Home Office meltdown - have been bizarrely sidelined as politicians instead plunged into the row over Celebrity Big Brother.

 

The Channel 4 reality show provoked an international diplomatic incident after Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty allegedly suffered racist bullying by fellow contestants - especially Jade Goody.

 

As India made a formal protest and demonstrators there burned effigies of the programme makers, a landmark visit by Gordon Brown to the country was derailed.

 

In the Commons at Prime Minister's Questions, Tony Blair was quizzed about the show and declared: "We should oppose racism in all its forms." Tory leader David Cameron urged viewers to "reach for the off button".

And Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain toured the broadcasting studios denouncing "grubby racist behaviour".

 

But with the audience soaring by a million as controversy raged, Channel 4 said it has no plans to intervene with the contestants, who are oblivious to the controversy.

 

And the station was looking forward to even higher viewing figures as news leaked out that Miss Shetty and Miss Goody have been nominated by fellow housemates for eviction on Friday night.

 

The public vote on which of the two should be thrown out now threatens to be seen around the world as a test of British tolerance.

 

However, the spectacle of a tawdry, failing reality programme featuring Z-list celebrities being propelled to the forefront of the political agenda left many observers baffled and dismayed.

 

Last night, police announced they had launched an investigation into the claims of racism in the show.

 

The Hertfordshire force said it would be reviewing tapes following about 40 calls from the public, but insisted that the matter was not yet a criminal investigation.

 

Incredibly, British diplomats said the plight of Miss Shetty was causing "serious damage" to foreign relations and risked undermining efforts to secure trade deals.

 

Last night, Asian TV stations and newspapers were dominated by discussions of whether the actress's treatment reflected the reality of multiculturalism in Britain - and there were warnings that the controversy was spreading to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

 

Miss Shetty has repeatedly been targeted by fellow housemates on the reality programme.

 

The 31-year-old has been described as a "dog", faced complaints after touching other housemates' food, asked if she lives in a "shack" and called "the Indian".

The ringleader of the alleged abuse is Miss Goody, a former contestant who once asked where "East Angular" was.

 

Channel 4 was accused of "shaming Britain" with its failure to intervene in the row, which has provoked almost 20,000 complaints - but seen viewing figures rocket.

 

On January 3, the launch show attracted an audience of 7.3 million, but by January 8, ratings hit rock bottom at 2.8 million. But by Wednesday night figures had been boosted to 4.5 million.

 

Channel 4 insisted there had been no "overt" racist abuse directed against Miss Shetty, but added: "There has undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house."

It said it has no plans to intervene unless it receives a complaint from Miss Shetty or has clear evidence of racism.

 

In India, the influential Times of India newspaper, under the headline "Big(ot) Brother Bullies Shilpa", said the actress had become a symbol of "Britain's very public, sometimes two-faced fights against racism".

 

 

 

The Chancellor admitted the issue had been raised repeatedly with him - including by Indian trade minister Kamal Nath - and said people were right to view remarks made to Miss Shetty as "offensive".

 

"I want to reassure people at all times that Britain prides itself for its reputation for tolerance and fairness," he said. "Anything detracting from this I condemn."

 

Miss Shetty's mother Sunanda, speaking from Bombay, said: "To see her crying on television for a bunch of people bullying or abusing her in a foreign country, it is not a nice feeling as parents to watch.

 

"We believe she has showed the utmost dignity and are very proud of her. What these women have been saying to her is very wrong."

 

However, sniping at Miss Shetty appeared to be continuing unabated, with Jack Tweedy, Miss Goody's boyfriend suggesting that she should be locked in the garden.

 

Ironically, bookmaker William Hill said yesterday that Miss Shetty is now the new "hot favourite" to win Celebrity Big Brother.

 

The bookmakers were offering 6/4 that she would be the eventual victor after a rush of bets for her over the previous 24 hours.

how silly is that.

 

but yeah many people who complain are probably watching. :dozey:

 

its not really surprising though. those thing happen everyday, so why wouldnt they happen in the big brother house.

 

but then again if they know how those people act, they should make them leave the house!

 

The sensible ones were the ones who walked out.;)

The sensible ones were the ones who walked out.;)

 

oh some walked out.

 

i havent got a clue whats going on there and i probably wouldnt even know if i lived in england. people were discussing big brother and love island all the time at work though.

oh some walked out.

 

i havent got a clue whats going on there and i probably wouldnt even know if i lived in england. people were discussing big brother and love island all the time at work though.

 

How incredibly sad!! Obviously people with no "lives"!!:rolleyes:

i wouldnt say so! i mean i dont watch big brother but its understandable that you dont wanna talk about your private life with people you hardly know.

i wouldnt say so! i mean i dont watch big brother but its understandable that you dont wanna talk about your private life with people you hardly know.

 

That's fair enough, but still doesn't excuse talking about "brain-candy" TV rather than something intelligent...................... ;)

wow!! this show is so much popular in the UK than here...... I can't believe this!!! I hope that Jade lady gets voted out...

wow!! this show is so much popular in the UK than here...... I can't believe this!!! I hope that Jade lady gets voted out...

 

She definitely ain't no lady!!:dozey:

:rolleyes: ok... ok that slag Jade... better? :P

:rolleyes: ok... ok that slag Jade... better? :P

 

Much, thanks!!:rolleyes:

'I am a victim of racism', says Shilpa as diplomatic row grows

 

Last updated at 11:16am on 18th January 2007 Comments (24)

Bullied: Cleo reassures Shilpa: 'I don't think there's anything racist in it'.

 

 

 

 

• 27,000 Ofcom complaints

• 5.7 million viewers last night

• 21 MPs sign protest motion

 

 

Channel 4 faced a further backlash after Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty said she was a victim of racism.

The Bollywood star's tearful declaration contradicted a Channel 4 claim that she had not "voiced any concerns" about racist abuse.

The heated argument between Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty, in an episode of the programme last night, pulled in audience figures of 5.7 million, up one million on the previous night's show.

 

 

Last night Shetty was put up for eviction on Friday against Jade Goody, whom bookmakers made the overwhelming favourite to be booted out.

Security will be stepped up. Goody, accused of being a racist bully, was one of four contestants named in email threats handed to the police.

Channel 4 denied Shetty was the victim of racist abuse, blaming her treatment and comments from Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd on a "culture clash".

"To date there has been no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour directed against Shilpa Shetty within the Big Brother house," it said.

Danielle Lloyd's comment: "I think she should f**k off home," was raised by Big Brother in the Diary Room.

When questioned the former Miss Great Britain looked shocked as the connotations of what she had said dawned on her. Danielle said she could not remember saying it, and if she had then did not mean it and would apologise to Shilpa.

Today Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson refused to comment when asked about the issue on BBC Radio 4's Today programme today.

Asked whether he thought "racist bullying was good entertainment", he said: "If you refer to our statement, you will see what our comment is."

Oblivious to the escalating race row outside the house, contestants were embroiled in more conflict on yesterday's show as Shetty, 31, faced further slurs.

Goody told her: "Go back to the slums". Lloyd said later: "I think she should f**k off home."

Shetty told Cleo Rocos: "Is that what today's UK is? It's scary."

Rocos said: "I don't think there's anything racist in it."

Shetty insisted: "It is, I'm telling you."

The row on last night's instalment looks certain to trigger further complaints to broadcast regulator Ofcom.

A senior series producer today dismissed the escalating row over the programme, saying: "It's all a hysterical reaction to what is going on in there, which is a class argument.

"Shilpa... hasn't complained once of bullying or racism during her time in the house. If a line had been crossed, which it hasn't, we would do something about it."

Today, Chancellor Gordon Brown, on a visit to India to encourage ties between the two nations, was set to apologise to premier Manmohan Singh over the furore, which has sparked protests there.

Hindu worshippers in Britain said they would hold prayers to support Shetty, a practising Hindu.

At the Hare Krishna temple in Watford, spokesman Radha Mohan Das said: "I do not like Big Brother, as it is about putting different people from different cultures together and watching them clash.

"We hope that things are resolved peacefully and people can learn tolerance from this."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone condemned production company Endemol for "deliberately broadcasting racist comments".

He said: "The programme makers should instead explicitly warn participants that such behaviour is unacceptable and contestants making racist comments will be evicted."

The leader of Britain's biggest union today rounded on Channel 4 chiefs. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis has written to Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan and Ofcom.

"Channel 4 is now effectively donating a freeview TV channel to louts who, it appears, wouldn't be too out of place in the extremist British National Party," Mr Prentis said.

R.I.P. Big Brother.

 

Couldn't have come at a better time.