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'Racism' complaint over Big Brother stars

<p>MEDIA watchdog Ofcom has received 20,000 complaints about alleged racism in Celebrity Big Brother. <P></P> <P>Viewers believe Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is being targeted by housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara because she is Indian.</P> <P>Newspapers today reported Jade has been dropped by an anti-bullying charity she has supported for two years because of her behaviour on the show.</P> <P>Act Against Bullying said her treatment of Indian beauty Shilpa was "unforgivable".</P> <P>Founder Louise Burfitt-Dons told the Sun: "She has supported us, yet she has proven vulnerable to letting out the aggressive instincts we all have."</P> <P>Jade's mother, Jackiey, repeatedly referred to Shilpa as "the Indian" while she was on the show and refused to pronounce her name.</P> <P>Over the weekend, former beauty queen Danielle Lloyd and ex-S Club 7 star Jo O'Meara poked fun at Shilpa's accent.</P> <P>Earlier Shilpa ended up in floods of tears.</P> <P>She made a roast chicken for the group - only for Jo to refuse it.</P> <P>"I don't trust that chicken. I want to eat it but I'm scared," Jo complained, claiming it was undercooked and too spicy.</P> <P>The bullying has become so bad that ex-Steps star Ian claimed: "It's turning into that film - Lord Of The Flies."</P> <P>"Were they bullying Shilpa last night?" asked Jermaine Jackson.</P> <P>"Yeah," Ian replied. "I'm not playing those games. I'm not going to be part of it."</P> <P>Shilpa emerged from the bedroom hiding her eyes behind dark glasses.</P> <P>She put on a brave face, insisting: "This will make me into a stronger person."</P> <P>Jermaine reckoned Shilpa should use her martial arts training, advising her to "whip out some of that kung fu".</P> <P>The Jackson Five star said of Jade, Jo and Danielle: "They have their club. Maybe it's an age thing."</P> <P>He told Shilpa: "Jade can't read you because she's not on your level. It's like going to a meeting and it all going over your head. You have to stay true to the person in your heart."</P> <P>And in the words of his brother Michael, he told her: "Look at the song Man In The Mirror. They need to look in the mirror before they can make that change."</P> <P>Evicted housemate Carole Malone does not believe the bullying is racist.</P> <P>Instead she says it is motivated by jealousy of Shilpa's beauty.</P> <P>"Shilpa is too good-looking for her own good," Carole told the BBC Asian Network.</P> <P>"She's an incredibly powerful and beautiful woman. She is a very strong woman and can handle it. I spoke to her about it when I was in the house."</P> <P><STRONG><EM>YOU can follow Shilpa Shetty's time in the Big Brother house and join the discussion by </EM></STRONG><A href="http://blogs.theasiannews.co.uk/asiannews/bollywood_gossip/" target=_self><STRONG><EM>clicking here</EM></STRONG></A>&nbsp;<STRONG><EM>to visit our blog&nbsp;- and have your say on the issue by clicking on 'Submit your Comments' below ...</EM></STRONG></P></p>

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"in my opinion I do not think Shilpa's feud with the three 'bitchytiers' in the house is soley to do with racism. I think it is also partly to do with jelousy, Shipa is a very successful, intelligiant & stunning girl compared to the other three. Danielle is not famuous and lives off fottballer Teddy Sheringham; Jo O'meara is a has been celebrity and is currently broke and Jade goody I dont even understand how she is known to be a celebrity? If people like Jade Goody are referred to as celebrity's the question is rasied as to what type of society do we live in?

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I think what dannielle, jade and jo are doing to shilpa is not acceptable But how come no-one has mentioned jermaine calling jackiey white trash. Should'nt racisism work both ways?

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If Big Brother does not tolerate racism then they should show the racists the red card and thrown them out of the house. I hope and pray that Shilpa is not damaged by this. I am so proud to be an Asian - her dignity in the face of such vile behaviour gives us all something to be proud of. She is a role model for anyone.

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Shilpa is subject to clandestine rascism. Big Brother needs to reprimand the trio "JO, JADE & DANIELLE" for this. One can even quote Jo "I don't like the way they eat” (When referring to Indians).
They made malevolent comments about her 'fingering food', when she was just rationing out the food in the plates. The meal was hand-prepared. This in unacceptable, and I am disenchanted about the show. They were also acutely spiteful about her applying bleach cream to her face. This is common in India and Pakistan and it is an Indian form of skin-treatment to help reduce pigment. Shilpa is not a British Asian, she was brought up in India thus the trio should be able to comprehend how much of a 'society shock' this whole game is for her.She is being singled. Please take action.

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This is not acceptable at all! We hope everyday that this outrageous behavior being broadcasted all over the nation will stop, but it just keeps getting worse and worse!
Jack, Jade and Danielle are definitely not the brightest of people and make things worse by their irresponsible comments and behavior on the show.
Looking at their behavior towards Shilpa, it is evident they are not aware of other cultures and sensibilities, showing all classic frog-in-a-well signs!
They are rather undignified and are probably still hung up on being superior to other cultures and races, whereas the fact of the matter is that they will never even come close to what Shilpa, as an Indian has achieved at such a young age.
We appreciate that some of the contestants do not know who Shilpa is, what her credentials are …quot; but the Channel 4 management does. To see her being publicly humiliated everyday is completely unacceptable to us!!
We as the viewers have a right to ask the Channel to stop broadcast if they can not address the issues mentioned above. This is not good journalism and can definitely not be disguised as 'public entertainment' as we know it!

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I am half Asian and am a little concerned at this so-called racism debate. Nobody minded when Shilpa was mocking the other housemate's accents. As for cooking, I wouldn't eat a chicken that was only cooked for 40 mins to an hour. Even if these housemates are found to be racist, wouldn't it be more beneficial to Asians to find out WHY they don't like Asians? It is no secret that a lot of Asians don't embrace western culture. A little like the English ex-pats abroad. Racism cannot be swept under the carpet and treated like a disease. It should be dealt with head on. I would much rather encounter someone honest and up front about their racism than one who wasn't.

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There are nasty, racist undertones to the way O'Meara, Jade Goody her partner, and Danielle Lloyd have behaved. Shilpa has never been nasty to anyone in the BB house. And that, D Howdy is the difference between her and them. She is dignified and has tried to build bridges, whereas they have been nasty. There is no getting away from the fact that Shilpa has been the victim of RACISM and BULLYING. It is hight time that Channel 4 at very least remind them that their behaviour is unnacceptable and warn them. Personally I would eject the 3 girls and the boy for their racist behaviour. Channel 4 has so far just cynically chased the increased ratings and have Pound signs in their eyes, which is disgraceful.

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AM ASIAN pakistani.... i find it funny to see whites acting like fools.and Jack lol.. his just sum kid at only 19. his got no clue about anything. i dont get it ...why dont Shilpa just walk out of big brother.

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The bullying of Jody Marsh last year was far worse and nobody made this much fuss. I do not see how they are being racist either.

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Peter, Southend, try taking your head out of the sand. Remarks about Indians being thin other nasty references to Shilpa being Indian are racist. Only a fool, someone in denial or a racist couldn't spot that. So stop pretending it isn't racist. Jody marsh suffered from bullying only which was unpleasant, but Shipla is suffering from racism and buullying.

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I have been watching Big brother just because Shilpa Shetty was in there.
I Watch it through out the day and feel disguusted to watch it. It is so intolerable and hats off to shilpa she makes me proud by facing it. Its not an environment to live in with such sensless people arround.....
She is an example for a strength and dignity.
The three senseless classless should be thrown out of Country they are a bad name to this country.....Horrible and they have spolied the image of this show.
I don't feel comfortable watching anymore when ever i see those faces of THat Jade, Henpecked Boyfriend Jack, The Disgrace Dannielle and the singer JO...
kick em out of not only the house but from this country!!!!!

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Is this what the united kingdom is like today? The people in the house represent the majority of different background and culture of other British people.
Racism and discrimination is a huge issue in the house and it represent the way other people from other countries and culture are being treated.
The television broadcasting network "channel4" should not be encouraging such an issue of racism and discrimination.
The actress is a victim of the above stated issue, yet the majority of British are denying it.
If this is what the UK is like and the people are like, why is it a democracy?

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I totally condemned the comments/bullying made on Shilpa shetty, who I consider is representing India on the show. She deserves more respect than anybody else in Big brother reality show.

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Those people who does not know the value of respecting one individual, should be thrown out of this society then only they will learn their lessons of life. Considering India to be a slums by some the Big bro participants reflect their hatred towards Indian. This is totally condemnable and those people needs some treatment.

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I can only appologise for the treatment of Shilpa in the Big Brother House.

Personally I would not watch such a program, but am appalled by some of the scenes I have seen from the program and hope that Shilpa realises that what she is seeing does not represent the British people as a whole. Unfortunately she has had to endure one of the vilest human beings I can image in Jade. She is crude and ignorant. I do not know if she is a racist but she and some of the other housemate are certainly coming across as such, I would hope this is pure ignorance, jealousy and stupidity and not real racisim.

From what I have seen Shilpa is an extreemly beautiful woman who has behaved with incredible dignity in the face of extreme provocation.

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Again its true Shilpa is the best looking in BB whereas Jade looks like a pig and her piglets who join her in the racist acts

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