Big Brother racism debate

[Steven W]

I've, rather sadly, been following Celebrity Big Brother and I just can't see why there are racism allegations.

16,000 complaints according to the news. There's even been an effigy of the Big Brother organisers burnt in India and apparently some threats have arrived at the studio via the post.

Some contestants have occasionally mimicked Shilpa's accent, but no more than you would mimic anyone else with a strong accent. Being from the Midlands I get it all the time.

Jackie did make the remark : Do you live in a shack? But this is down to the woman's ignorance and obvious mental problems. I'm sure she didn't mean it as a racist comment.

There is an element of bullying going on, but nothing that I constitute as racism (from what I've seen anyway). It seems as though its been blown out of proportion. If they were racist, wouldn't they be making comments towards Jermaine Jackson as well? They don't like Shilpa because she's plain annoying,not because the colour of her skin.

Here is the initial report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6265127.stm

It's a tricky subject but where do you cross the line from being ignorant to racist?

[Trash Man]

Stick to many insecure people with big ego's in a house together and you will get this kind of behaviour.

[Koolpc]

Load of rubbish. Can't see what the fuss is about?

[kempez]

And to think I respected your point of view Steven! Now I learn you actually watch and care about Big Brother

[charleski]

It's completely unacceptable. The fact that the people making these remarks are little more than trailer-trash doesn't change that.

[nichomach]

"On Monday night's episode, Jo reportedly suggested that Indians were thin because they are always ill as a result of undercooking their food."

"The trio also complained that Shilpa had touched other housemates' food with her hands.
Danielle said: "You don't know where those hands have been."

"Jade Goody's mother, Jackiey Budden, repeatedly referred to Shilpa as "the Indian" while she was featured on the show and was unable to pronounce her name."

Personally, I'd regard that as racist; with regard to the first comment, it's blatant. With regard to the second, would that comment have been made if she was white? Don't think so. And with regard to the third, sorry, however much of a retard the woman may be, to claim to be unable to pronounce Shilpa Shetty is ludicrous.

[Agent]

Can we just nuke the house with the lot of them in, then talk about that ?

[YorkieBen]

some of the stuff is borderline but imo it is not racism but bullying/women bitching. They are not having a go at her because she is Indian, they are having a go because a) she is better looking and b) she is (from what I have seen) annoying.

one problem is there is no real strong males in the house (come on Faceman, stand up!) - the gimp from steps 'burst into tears' because Shilpa was being bullied - why not step in?

Talking of rascism, Jermaine Jackson was freely using the phrase 'white trash' - in America this is pretty inflammitory, strangely nothing was said.

as I said, imo its not rascism, its bitching/bullying by 3 thick ignorant women and frankly big brother has seen worse bullying in the past. The pc brigade (and the lack of front page news) have made this into a much bigger issue than it should have been

[autopilot]

Yep, it's complete media hype - something for the papers to right about. The producers must be smiling like a Cheshire cat's at this publicity.

There is a bit of mild bullying, but its not racist.

You have to remember, this show is bound to get complaints. It's positively encouraged, it's that kind of show where people 'interact'. This is just another form of that.

You also have to remember that she is MASSIVE in india (and with Indians world wide). She is like Julia Roberts is to the US, much bigger in fact, so there is bound to be a little over-reaction from her nation and fans.

[kempez]

Having just taken a look at Shilpa Shetty's site she is rather gorgeous - but jealousy or not to say that stuff is pretty disgusting (both sides tbh)

Ignorance is not bliss. Can't we just shoot the chavs?

[Tom Scott]

Keith Vaz should be removed from his role as an MP with immediate effect! Its seems you can only be deemed as a racist if your white!!. Comments from Jermaine like "White trash" have obviousley been ignored and no mention of Shilpa mocking Jades accent have been mentioned. To bring this matter up in parliment as racism is a complete and utter joke. Its Ok for whites to be on the receiving end of obvious racial comments but a mere clash of personalities through class makes it racist?? I think not!! Last week a 16 year old white schoolboy was set upon by a group of asians and beaten badly with an hammer, where is the big debate about that?? It is total double standards and Keith Vaz has only incited more racial tension by escalating such trivial nonsense to the house of commons. Clearly he is one sided on this subject and therefore should not be allowed to represent a constituency which contains both white and ethnic origins. Shilpa is clearly being bullied by Jade, Jo, Danielle and Jack. But hasnt come under the sort of personal attack that Jodie Marsh suffered in last years show from Pete "Monkey" Burns and Michael "Swimming Pool" Barrymore. Theres no wonder the BNP continue to become more popular with the white people of this country, we are made to feel like the minority as Rascism is all one way. MP Keith Vaz is obviousley very narrow minded and actions that he has taken have only increased racial tensions and hatred. He has biased views and not fit to be in the job. He should either resign or be removed immediately from his position. The fact that he turns a blind eye to anything said towards whites is the only racism I can see through all of this!!

To be honest, that about sums my views on the subject. Racist no - ignorant, yes.

[Mike Fishcake]

The producers must be smiling like a Cheshire cat's at this publicity.

Racist.

[chicken]

I liked the way Sky News last night was interviewing one of the housemate's semi-coloured friends from back home who was saying "She comes round our house all the time, my dad's Jamaican and my mum's white English and she doesn't have a problem with that, and she eats our food, some of which is quite spicy, she eats spicy chicken with us!".


What a load of nonsense!

[MadduckUK]

she eats spicy chicken with us!

haha. i love that

[Barakka]

I don't watch the show in either its "wannabe" or "hasbeen" form and could not tell you anyone who is in the house.

The only things I knew about BigBother until today were;

1) It is currently going on
2) Some people are in the house, some have left

AND

3) The ratings have been dreadful

Then this morning it's front page news.

Sounds to me like a mix of stupidity, ignorance and editing

[midzt]

lol she eats spicy chicken! :O

tbh i think that some comments are racist but most of it is just, like most people have said, is ignorance.