Celebrity Big Brother's Shilpa faces racist bias on UK TV?

Question

Just two weeks into the house of the Big Brother and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has already hit the headlines, for all the wrong reason though. British Media watchdog, Ofcom, has received over 200 complaints about alleged racism against Shetty. According to media reports, the actress was apparently branded a 'dog' on the Celebrity Big Brother UK show,

Shetty is one of the nine participants on the British reality television show. The show chronicles the activities of the participants after they are locked in a house together. The complainants have taken exception to the fact that other participants made fun of Shetty's accent.

Also one of the contestants, who has since been voted out of the show, used to repeatedly refer to her as the 'The Indian', something which has irked Shilpa's fans. Big Brother is broadcaster Channel 4's most popular programme and Shetty has signed a Rs 3-crore deal to appear in the show.

The television watchdog in London said it had received 200 complaints from viewers that the star was a victim of racist bullying, the reports said. Fans, upset by the racist behaviour, have voiced their concerns on Internet forums.

Shetty, 31, is one of nine celebrities whose activities are being filmed after they were locked in a house together on January 2. A spokeswoman for Ofcom said, "Quite a lot of websites have been discussing the issue and urging people to get in contact with us."

Viewers believe that Shetty has been targeted by Jade Goody, a previous contestant on the non-celebrity version of the show, whose gaffe-prone persona turned her into a tabloid star, Danielle Lloyd, a former beauty queen, and Jo O'Meara, who was in short-lived pop group S Club 7.

Goody has said Shetty 'makes my skin crawl', while Lloyd has called her 'a dog'. O'Meara refused to eat a chicken roasted by Shetty, because she claimed it was too spicy and undercooked, prompting Shetty to burst into tears.

Jackson Five star Jermaine Jackson consoled Shetty by quoting the words of his brother Michael's hit Man In The Mirror. "They need to look in the mirror before they can make that change," he told her. Show producers sought out Shetty and reportedly paid her more than the others -- up to £350,000 -- to bring Bollywood glamour to proceedings and attract viewers with south Asian roots.

Originally done as a one-off tie-in series by Channel 4 in association with the BBC's Comic Relief charity telethon, Celebrity Big Brother is now a full spin-off of Big Brother UK, shown on Channel 4. The series features B list and C list celebrity contestants living in the Big Brother House, trying to avoid being evicted by the public, to win a large cash prize to be donated to the winner's nominated charity at the end of the run.

These 3 bitches were racists and I'm glad to see this article come out. I figured it was only a matter of time before something like this was written up, and it's a huge relief to see it happen.

Another thing that really disappoints me is the lack of support Shilpa is getting. The only one that really tries to help her is Jermaine, but even he's a disappointment. What I mean by that is why in hell doesn't Jermaine, Dirk, Ian or Cleo stand up to these useless bags of skin and tell them what they're all about? Why don't they stick up for Shilpa more instead of waiting for them to strike then give her a bloody hug? That doesn't help or do her any good because it's after the fact and you can't take the hurtful feelings away after the words have already been spoken.

Answer 1

I agree with everything you've said. I thought that last night when Ian was crying and went to the diary room, he basically ended up crying for himself though. because 'he'd been bullied' I would have thought so much more of him had he actually gone out there and asked those three why they're doing this. All it would take is for him or Dirk or Jermaine to voice what they're all seeing. I mean does Jo actually think she's looking good to the rest of us? And those people saying it's not racism, when you hear Jo mocking Shilpa's accent, and listen to Jackiey referring to her as the Indian, and put incidents like these into context, there is no other way to view it than racism. They mean to be offensive and it comes across as exactly that.

Answer 2

I did not consider this is be racist abuse and then I realised that Channel 4 have admitted Jack used the P word to describe Shilpa. It was beeped out and can be seen on u-tube. No-one present corrected him and this concerns me as he 'hates' her. A very strong word to use unless he has another issue with her or her background? Everyone deserves respect and I find it sad when people chose to revert back to this childish schoolground behavour when they feel threatened. I think Jermaine is spot on when he talked about Jade feeling threatened by Shilpa and the possiblity of Jade going through a crisis. I also found it sad that instead of being proud that she was famous for 'just' being in Big Brother, Jade took this as an insult. Jade was censured by anti-bully charity Act Against Bullying, which, ironically, she supports. Dropping her picture from its website, the charity said Jade’s behaviour was “unforgivable”. They have placed a police car outside and Danielle's family are potentially being threatened by anit-racist groups. These girls need to be very careful. It doesn't matter if they intend this to be racist! Jade, Jo and Danielle, learn to dodge the spit and eggs!

Answer 3

I think there is a racist thing going on, for sure, but what's even sadder than the fact that it's happening, is the fact that those who are doing it, don't see it that way. They're too bloody drunk most of the time to remember what the hell they say. Maybe they should take all the alcohol out of the house and see what happens then. Then again, maybe they'd be the same pricks, just sober.

And on that topic, pardon my ignorance, but are they free to just get the alcohol whenever they want or does BB have to dole it out like they do with the medications? It hardly seems realistic that Shilpa can't keep her cough syrup (which probably doesn't even have alcohol in it), yet the others can spend the whole day getting hammered.

That Beauty Queen girl has got to go. She's about a chromosone away from a potato!

Answer 4

I think it is harder for shilpa as she hasnt been able to bond with the gals and instead of making that effort they have almost branded her as the prolem and dont seem to want to make an effort with her.

As for the way they speak they have all taken the mick out of eachothers accents...shilpa has of jade and the other house mates have of shilpas too. BUT her english is acyually better then some of the other house mates, which i think has suprised them and maybe even made them feel a bit Inferior and i only say that because the other house mates have really bad english, she has even corrected them which they prob didnt like

There are nick names for people from differnat parts of the world however calling someone a paki is and always has been viewed as being raciest which i agree with...she has a name....she doesnt call the other house mates XYZ!!! she even trys to say dirks name even thow she knows she cant pronounce it right

Called someone a dog is out of order inside or outside the house

I think the other house mates arent stickin up for shilpa bcoz they know its a 'game' and the dont want to create this divid in the house (or make the existing on worse)

Everyone needs to remember she comes from a differant life style, she is use to telling people what to do but she is still trying to make the effort with everyone, and doesnt have that, IM BETTER THEN U attitude, she still cooks etc

They program seems to be focusing on her alot at the moment, however theyr are other people in the house, Big Brother needs to do something to show that and take the focus and pressure/bullying whatever you want to call it, off her and reinstate the GAME....its a game people lighten up :)

Answer 5

The trio of girls come across as prejudiced rather than racist, most of the time. However i feel that there have been direct racist digs at Shilpa. I thought that Jackie ( I don't think that's how she spells it) was disgusting calling her 'the Indian' to Davina, and Davina was terrible in not picking that up.

The trio come across very badly, be that because of their upbringing, class or bias I'm not sure. It's channel 4 that come out of this worse; this series of CBB has been the worse so far, with viewing figures down, and 3 walking out. They devoted the entire programme last night to this *****-fest, I think to get increased coverage / attention / media talk time and ultimately viewing figures. They really should know better.

Answer 6

i love shilpa and hate the way she is being treated but at the same time i haven't seen or heard anything racist. I really believe that Dani, jade & jo are just jealous of the fact she is far prettier and more sucsseful than they ever will be and have decided she is their bigest threat to the bb crown. Shilpa puts a lot of english women to shame, I wish I had her grace and elegence

Answer 7

I think she is victimised to the extent of bullying borderline racism, the three people who are all involved in this should be booted out on live TV. Anyone who doesnt agree should be ashamed of themselves as you are condoning the behaviour of 3 un-educated, childish and totally disrespectful sad excuses for women, No wonder our countries a mess.
Shilpa, comes across as a very polite, intelligent person and hasnt said anything nasty about anyone and certainly doesnt resort to bitchy comments and does not deserve to be treat this way, would you like it?! See my profile and petition below and SaveShilpaShetty

Answer 8

Jade's mum reportedly got £150,000 but they always over exaggerate, Jade seems to be Channel 4's blue eyed girl who can do no wrong, she has the same agent as Russell Brand, Davina and all the other Big Bro presenters, Knowle Management so I think she will ultimately somehow win so she is clearly deluded into thinking she can do no wrong, sorry Jade but I hope your career goes down the toilet now the public see you for what you really are, a manipulative little racist bully yobbo. She's already been dropped by a charity she fronts, ironic the charity is anti-bullying!

Answer 9

People like Jade and Danielle are fairly typical uneducated, possible slightly retarded, talentless mongs and the other contestants can see that trying to convince small-minded bigots is a waste of their time.

I agree someone needs to point out to Jade she is a bully - and has been dropped by the anti-bullying association she heads up - but she clearly doesn't have the sense to understand. Unfortunately the hard-of-thinking in our society are often those who gain most celebrity as big **** and skinny brainless mutts are popular.

I feel very sorry for Shelpa but I think she is big enough to realise she doesn't need to drop down to the level of racists bullies, and hopefully it appears the public are turning in their attitude towards Jade - though Danielle and Jo will be re-forgotten the moment they leave the house.

Answer 10

You can see that it is just jealousy. She speaks better English than all of them. Better looking. If you look at your answers it is mostly the girls that are against Shilpa and the guys for.
Also, as for her being up herself,well that is just class. Yes she is different to Jade and co. but it is just upbringing. It would be the same if you put Diana or Charles in there with that bunch of losers. I can never understand people picking on someone when they have an accent. Most people in Britain do not speak standard English and most local accents are more difficult to understand to someone that speaks standard English (or close to it ) Than Shilpa who speaks better than most in that house.