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20,000 join BB racism protest
17.01.07
Shilpa: bullied by her fellow housemates
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At least 20,000 viewers have joined the outcry over 'racist bullying' of an Indian star in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Gallery: Big Brother's VIP obstacle course
More than 7,600 complaints about the treatment of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty were received by TV regulator Ofcom by yesterday evening.
A petition signed by more than 10,000 people was sent to Channel 4. The broadcaster received another 2,000 phone and e-mail complaints. One viewer even took his grievances to the police.
Labour MP Keith Vaz tabled an early day motion in the Commons about the behaviour on the show.
Carphone Warehouse is also reviewing its £3million sponsorship of Big Brother and its celebrity spin-off.
Boss Charles Dunstone said: 'We are talking to Channel 4. Clearly, we are against racism.'
The row blew up after housemates Jo O'Meara, Danielle Lloyd and Jade Goody appeared to gang up on 31-year-old Shetty.
Former S Club 7 member O'Meara, 27, mocked her accent and said Indians were thin because they always undercooked their food. 'They eat with their hands in India, don't they - or is that China?' asked model Lloyd, 23, adding with a sneer: 'You don't know where her hands have been.'
Viewers claimed Channel 4 bleeped out a clip when Goody's boyfriend, Jack Tweedy, 19, called the actress a 'Paki' but the broadcaster insisted it was because he had used the C-word.
Evictee Jackiey Budden - Goody's mother - referred to Shetty as 'The Indian', telling a magazine: 'I would still love to squeeze her neck until her eyes pop out.'
The Act Against Bullying charity has now dropped Goody, 25, as its patron.
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Reader views (19)
This should be the end of Big Brother. There were complaints about bullying in last summer's Big Brother. This seems to be what the producers are after. Shame on Channel 4 and Endemol.
- Deborah, London
It's not racist as much as it's classist. The bullies are common types who are ganging up against someone they think of as snobby merely because that person has some self-respect. I could never see anything pretty about Danielle now - ugly is as ugly does and Jo and Jade have and always will be mingin'x10.
- Tina, London
I will not be watching Celebrity Big Brother again. I switched channels last night as it was so disturbing and depressing to see someone being racially abused and victimised in this manner. Shame on you channel 4 for allowing this situation to continue. Get rid of Jade, Jo, Danielle.
- C Lyons, Forest Gate
I am extremely saddened to note what is going on in the Big Brother house. Do the producers get a thrill in watching Shilpa being taunted and demoralised by some third rate so called 'celebrities'? However, I must say Shilpa behaves with such dignity and decorum and has won our hearts. I was completely disturbed by the comment and just could not believe it when I heard one of the ladies saying 'perhaps we should flick this into her curry'. I used to be a fan of Big Brother but I am not any more.
- Disgusted, London, UK
I have found the current edition of this programme disturbing because of the racist undertones.
- Indy Ann,, Essex
I think there is a bit of cattiness going on but without a bit of conflict in the show it would be boring.
- M Keene, Harrow
What a glorious advert for multicultural Britain. No doubt Channel 4 are loving the controversy but that can't hide the fact that this is brainless and boring tv. I've stopped watching.
- Anj, UK
Education, stunning beauty and class shows up how ill educated, ignorant and ugly these three bullies are. I hope it is the beginning of the end of having to put up with such gross people the likes of Jade Goody and her peers appearing on our television screens. Shilpa will emerge from the Big Brother house having kept her dignity unlike some others who will have questions to answer!
- Helen, London
I agree with Natalie - it is purely as simple as that - they are jealous.
- J Kaur, Kent
It's bullying, but it's not racist. Seems like a lot of people are jumping on the 'racist' bandwagon.
- Gonville Bromhead, Mumbai
Shilpa is beautiful, articulate, talented and educated. The other girls aren't. It's simple jealousy being expressed by people with a playground mentality.
- Claire, London
I think it's very sad in this day and age you get three young white girls calling an Asian woman 'the Indian' and making fun of her accent. This is not down to harmless working class fun and cultural differences, it is racist!
Ask most Asians in this country and they will agree that the comments made on Big Brother towards Shilpa are racist, we should know, most of us have had to face this type of racism growing up in this country.
The irony of the girls making fun out of Shlipa's accent is English is their first language and the three of them can hardly string a sentence together!
I'd rather have Shilpa as a role model than Jade, Daniella and Jo put together.
- Z. Malik, London
I think there is a bit racism and jealously involved here.
Danielle is probably used to being the most prettiest girl in the room, but Shilpa is pretty in a much more classy way and she cannot handle that.
I think it's disgusting that Big Brother can let these girls carry on like this.
Shipla has shown that she is very strong woman, and will not lower herself to act like these girls.
- Shalini, London
It is more ignorance than anything else but I can see why people think it borders racism. I personally am not convinced that the mocking of Shilpa's accent can be categorised as 'racist.' We all mock other people's accents so just because a bunch of British girls do it to an Indian contestant, doesn't make it racist. Even I have mocked the accent!
What does concern me more is the comments made by Danielle after the chicken incident which I feel have been looked over completely.
- Nila Patel, London
This is one of those debates that will never come to a comfortable conclusion. It seems that Danielle, Jade and Jo are all of the same mould in that they are not on any level other than to poke fun at Shipa's accent and call her names. She is no different just a beautiful, asian woman who has been unfortunately misunderstood. Do you not think when there are groups of girls, this always happen. See last year's CBB with Jodie Marsh and men were also involved. It's like everyone needs someone to pick on and it makes them stronger if they stick together in that group egging eachother on. Very sad to watch after Shilpa seems such a lovely person and these three witches should all be evicted!
- Mary, London
I pretty much agree with Richard. The girls look at Shilpa and see a stunning, talented, wealthy megastar actress. They have... well, what do they have, really? Even Jade with her millions in the bank probably does not really know what she has done to justify earning that money. So the playground mentality kicks in to knock Shilpa down a peg or two. Racism? Probably, not. Bullying? Probably, yes.
- Steve R, London, UK
Thank you Richard, well said.
- Isabel, Woking, England
I personally think it is less about intentional racism and more about cultural ignorance. These girls are essentially harmless, very ordinary English working class girls while Shilpa has come across almost like royalty in relation to them. I think they are jealous and intimidated by her beauty and class but I don't think their bitchiness is racist. It is very dangerous to be too sensitive and to simplfy this playground behaviour down to racism. In any case we have also heard Shilpa make a huge deal and laugh and mock Jade's accent for the way she pronounced 'whale' so the ignorance about cultures is coming fom both sides. So by the same judgement does this make Shilpa racist too?
ps Does J. Patel realise what they have said in the comment 'These girls are the typical British female with no morales other than to booze, with little education and social standards'. This smacks of the kind of stereotypical attitude which leads to racism too. Typical English females are not like Jade, Jo and Danielle, thankfully.
- Richard, London, UK
These girls show that this country is still in the racist state it was 30 years ago!
These girls are the typical British female with no morales other than to booze, with little education and social standards.
At least Shilpa has the carisma and social standards to be proud.
Move on girls there is no place for you in this multi-cultural country.
- J. Patel, London
