A contestant on the British version of Big Brother has been expelled from the house by the shows producers and Channel 4 for using a racial epithet. Sources say that the contestant used the n-word on the air which caused his expulsion.
The producers were quick to act after the incident partly due to the fact that a previous season of Celebrity Big Brother had a racial incident as well. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was the victim of a racial tirade and has spoken out in favor of the recent ousting.
Will this incident have an effect on the American version of Big Brother? In the past, houseguests have been expelled for exhibiting dangerous behavior but none have ever been punished for things they have said. In fact, insults and threats seem to fly quite freely in the BB house almost every season.
With the latest season of BB gearing up here in the US, producers are sure to be paying close attention to this story. Where will they draw the line? Some of you may remember in the fourth season of Big Brother, when Jee first nominated Erika for eviction. afterward she went to the backyard for a smoke and proceeded to call Jee a "Korean piece of shit" and a "fresh off the boat immigrant." While her statements contain no specific epithets, there's no question that there is a racist element.
If there is a similar incident in the US, it will, most likely, never see the light of day since producers are quick to censor the live shows as well as the feed on CBS' website. Keeping the story quiet, however is a much more difficult task
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-08-2007 @ 10:44AM
Gordy said...
'Racism' has to be the most improperly used word in our language. I mean, did she fire someone who was black? Did she have someone removed because they were black? Burn a black person's house?
No. She used a racial epithet. Name calling.
Racism in action has a power element--just like sexism. Many of our parents, grandparents, etc., experienced racism first hand, and this does not compare. This chick was just stupid, and kicked off the show for good reason. The reason was not 'racism'. If you want to call it something catchy, I believe the term for name-calling is 'childishness'.
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6-08-2007 @ 11:17AM
Denise said...
If we are going to begin censoring everything these people say, Why watch?? I do not want a watered down version of reality. In real life, this is how people talk. Lets stop pretending!
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6-08-2007 @ 11:23AM
LordPaul said...
SHE wasn't even name calling, she was saying a phrase that she thought was street to a black girl who understood the context but made a big point of letting her know that it was inappropriate. I think if the stuff that happened with those actual racist comments in the winter hadn't have happened this girl would have got away with a dressing down but Channel 4 (who broadcasts it) got a major bollocking from the regulator so are on eggshells.
It's a bit of a shame because this lass who was chucked out was incredibly pretty & we'll never get to see her running round the house in the natural, shame.
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6-08-2007 @ 11:35AM
mike m said...
It's a shame really. The Shilpagate that was CBB7 in January has pretty much ruined BB for me. It's one of the most intriguing reality shows when it wants to be, but dagnabbit, its like the Nipple at the Superbowl. Now, everyone is slightly hypersensitive.
HOWEVER, she needed to be warned, and explained to that it was inappropriate, and that convo needed to be aired. I think that would have been enough. If she was unapologetic, and was acting in a racist way, it would be different, but she was just insensitive to how certain words should just not be used ever.
I have a friend who used to make this mistake in an attempt to be cool. He was socially awkward though, and with correction, ceases to say it. The point is, I doubt Em is a racist, and things like this just ruin enjoyment for viewers.
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6-08-2007 @ 2:19PM
Borat said...
I don't think it's ok to evict them so quickly...how about a warning?
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6-08-2007 @ 7:02PM
Pinwiz said...
My personal thought was that Emily would have gotten off with a warning if she had been truly apologetic and hadn't been up for eviction. They couldn't take the chance that she would have survived the vote. It would have killed the show.
(As for Erica's comments... there were much worse ones said on a regular basis that were never aired said by people like Alison, Jun, Jase, and Ivette. The difference is that Erica's comment was broadcast. Feh.)
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6-09-2007 @ 12:27AM
Phish said...
Americans are FAR more sensitive to racism issues than the brits.
Ofcourse this does not mean that americans are less sensitive, in my opinion, subconciously, the two groups are equal!
But such an outburst is faaaar less likely to occur in american television.
the ego is a terrible thing, period!
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