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Ofcom probes Big Brother 'racism' Ofcom probes Big Brother 'racism'
(10 minutes later)
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has received over 2,000 complaints about alleged racism in Celebrity Big Brother against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has received over 2,000 complaints about alleged racism in Celebrity Big Brother against Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.
The organisation said it looked set to be the most complained-about series of the Channel 4 reality show.The organisation said it looked set to be the most complained-about series of the Channel 4 reality show.
Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of the Bollywood star's accent.Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of the Bollywood star's accent.
Channel 4 described the issue as "girly rivalry" but an anti-bullying charity has said she is "definitely" a victim. An anti-bullying charity said she is "definitely" a victim. Channel 4 said it was taking the matter seriously.
Over the weekend, model Lloyd and ex-S Club 7 star O'Meara poked fun at Shilpa's accent and criticised a chicken dinner she made as "too spicy" and "undercooked".Over the weekend, model Lloyd and ex-S Club 7 star O'Meara poked fun at Shilpa's accent and criticised a chicken dinner she made as "too spicy" and "undercooked".
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.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.
Goody originally made her name in the third series of Big Brother and had been placed in the house along with her mother and boyfriend.Goody originally made her name in the third series of Big Brother and had been placed in the house along with her mother and boyfriend.
Shilpa is too good-looking for her own good - she's an incredibly powerful and beautiful woman Carole MaloneEvicted contestant Act Against Bullying founder Louise Burfitt-Dons said Goody had "not been behaving properly" and the charity had removed her picture from its website. She said Goody had made a donation to the organisation a year ago.Shilpa is too good-looking for her own good - she's an incredibly powerful and beautiful woman Carole MaloneEvicted contestant Act Against Bullying founder Louise Burfitt-Dons said Goody had "not been behaving properly" and the charity had removed her picture from its website. She said Goody had made a donation to the organisation a year ago.
'Strong woman''Strong woman'
Shetty's UK manager, Jaz Barton, told BBC Radio Five: "She didn't come into the house to have that sort of harassment.Shetty's UK manager, Jaz Barton, told BBC Radio Five: "She didn't come into the house to have that sort of harassment.
"You know, she came in there with the full intention to actually embrace the public at large and to be proud of her culture and her heritage and who she is, and now she's faced with all this sort of harassment.""You know, she came in there with the full intention to actually embrace the public at large and to be proud of her culture and her heritage and who she is, and now she's faced with all this sort of harassment."
Shetty's mother, Sunanda, told the BBC Asian Network her daughter was tough: "I hope that she will be able to handle the situation. It is a game and there is a life beyond that.Shetty's mother, Sunanda, told the BBC Asian Network her daughter was tough: "I hope that she will be able to handle the situation. It is a game and there is a life beyond that.
"I understand her emotions but I really hope that she is not going to get too affected by this treatment that is being meted out to her.""I understand her emotions but I really hope that she is not going to get too affected by this treatment that is being meted out to her."
HAVE YOUR SAY I think the whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion Donna, Essex Send us your comments Evicted contestant Carole Malone said she believed the incidents were motivated by jealousy.HAVE YOUR SAY I think the whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion Donna, Essex Send us your comments Evicted contestant Carole Malone said she believed the incidents were motivated by jealousy.
"Shilpa is too good-looking for her own good," she told the Asian Network."Shilpa is too good-looking for her own good," she told the Asian Network.
"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.""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."
Malone added: "Shilpa feels that she represents the Indian/Asian community and doesn't want to let them or herself down by retaliating."Malone added: "Shilpa feels that she represents the Indian/Asian community and doesn't want to let them or herself down by retaliating."
'Continuous stream' 'Schoolyard rubbish'
Former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Faria Alam told BBC Radio Five Live: "This is schoolyard kind of rubbish basically, and it is jealousy and it's a combination of things.Former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Faria Alam told BBC Radio Five Live: "This is schoolyard kind of rubbish basically, and it is jealousy and it's a combination of things.
"You know, when you're in the house and you have lack of food and things like that everything sort of culminates and it comes to a head.""You know, when you're in the house and you have lack of food and things like that everything sort of culminates and it comes to a head."
Ofcom said the number of complaints had risen from 200 on Monday morning to 2,000 on Tuesday. Ofcom said the number of complaints had risen from 200 on Monday morning to 2,000 on Tuesday morning, and the figures had been boosted by Big Brother fan websites.
A spokeswoman said: "They are coming in a continuous stream.A spokeswoman said: "They are coming in a continuous stream.
"We had a similar number of complaints about the last series of Big Brother when Nikki was allowed back into the house and people were furious that they were having to pay to vote for the same person twice."We had a similar number of complaints about the last series of Big Brother when Nikki was allowed back into the house and people were furious that they were having to pay to vote for the same person twice.
"But if things continue at this level, by tomorrow this is likely to be the largest number of complaints ever received about a Big Brother series.""But if things continue at this level, by tomorrow this is likely to be the largest number of complaints ever received about a Big Brother series."
Channel 4 had described the incidents as "girly rivalry", but on Wednesday said it was taking the matter seriously.
"Big Brother does not tolerate bullying or racist abuse in any form. Big Brother is closely monitoring all the housemates and will take appropriate measures to reprimand such behaviour where necessary," a spokesman said.