Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Celebrity Big Brother racism controversy was a series of events related to incidents of racist behaviour by contestants on the television series Celebrity Big Brother 2007 shown on British television station Channel 4. The racist incidents centred on comments made by contestants on this reality television show, most notably Big Brother contestant Jade Goody, glamour model Danielle Lloyd, and singer Jo O'Meara, which were directed towards Indian actress Shilpa Shetty.
Event list
"Why do they hate me? Why am I detested? I feel like I'm losing my dignity. "I'm the only one they are mean to, I don't know why, nobody is mean to anyone else except me. I'm scared to say anything else. They've pushed me to the brink."
"You're a liar and a fake. You're a liar. You're not in Neverland here, you're not no princess here you're normal. You are normal. You are normal Shilpa and learn to live with it.
"You need a day in the slums. Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real."
Ofcom received 44,500 complaints from members of the public, while Channel 4 received an additional 3,000 complaints about racism and bullying by housemates against Shilpa. Channel 4 initially described the situation as "girly rivalry", but later admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural clash between her and three of the British females in the house".Channel 4 continued to air moments of racism on their show, stating that the social dynamics of the housemates are part of the story and viewers had the right to see the events portrayed as accurately as possible.
"I'm not racist, but I can see why it has had the impact it's had. I can see why it looks like bullying.
"I'm disgusted in myself for saying what I have just seen myself saying. I do not approve of any of my actions and I do not approve of the words that came out of my mouth."
In response to the alleged racism directed at actress Shilpa in the Big Brother House, protesters took to the streets in India and burned effigies of the show's organisers. The Indian Government planned to raise the issue with the British Government. India Tourism Office extended an "invitation" to Jade Goody to visit India and experience its "healing nature".