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Big Brother sponsor suspends deal | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Carphone Warehouse has suspended sponsorship of Celebrity Big Brother following allegations of racism toward actress Shilpa Shetty on the C4 show. | |
The company said its sponsorship would be removed from the current series "with immediate effect". | |
The move follows media watchdog Ofcom's demand that C4 must respond to complaints about 'racist' comments. | |
"Clearly what is happening is very serious," said Ofcom's chief executive Ed Richards. | |
A record 30,000 complaints have been made over alleged racist remarks towards Indian actress and Big Brother contestant Shetty. | |
Three of her fellow housemates have been accused of racist behaviour, with Jade Goody receiving the brunt of the public criticism. | |
However a spokeswoman for Goody, 25, who had an explosive row with Shetty on Wednesday, has denied she is a racist. | |
Shetty, 31 is award-winning Bollywood actress | |
"I would urge anyone who says that Jade is a racist to produce the evidence to support the claim," she said on Thursday. | |
"I have not heard Jade say anything that could be interpreted as a racist remark." | "I have not heard Jade say anything that could be interpreted as a racist remark." |
Ofcom chairman Ed Richards said that "any allegation of racism is very serious". | |
He said Ofcom will write to Channel 4 shortly but "in the meantime, it is Channel 4's responsibility to respond to very significant viewer concerns." | |
He added that the watchdog was "taking the matter very seriously and monitoring the situation very, very carefully". | |
"One can think of other circumstances where people have rushed to judgment and repented at leisure," he added. | |
He told a media conference in Oxford that the watchdog would not conduct a "kangaroo court". | |
'Victim' | 'Victim' |
Shetty spoke for the first time of fears that she is a victim of racism on Wednesday. | Shetty spoke for the first time of fears that she is a victim of racism on Wednesday. |
She told housemate Cleo Rocos that she feared she was being targeted because of her race. | She told housemate Cleo Rocos that she feared she was being targeted because of her race. |
Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following the row over stock cubes, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it." | Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following the row over stock cubes, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it." |
But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you." | But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you." |
Reports say Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the next Celebrity Big Brother evictions on Friday, with Goody 1-5 favourite to get the boot. | Reports say Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the next Celebrity Big Brother evictions on Friday, with Goody 1-5 favourite to get the boot. |
'Go home' | 'Go home' |
Contestant Danielle Lloyd has also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home" , adding that "she can't even speak English properly". | Contestant Danielle Lloyd has also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home" , adding that "she can't even speak English properly". |
In a statement, Channel 4 said there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour," despite more than 27,000 complaints from the public to media regulator Ofcom and 3,000 directly to the channel. | In a statement, Channel 4 said there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour," despite more than 27,000 complaints from the public to media regulator Ofcom and 3,000 directly to the channel. |
"Unambiguous racist behaviour and language is not tolerated under any circumstances in the Big Brother house. Housemates are constantly monitored and Channel 4 would intervene if a clear instance of this arose," it said. | "Unambiguous racist behaviour and language is not tolerated under any circumstances in the Big Brother house. Housemates are constantly monitored and Channel 4 would intervene if a clear instance of this arose," it said. |
However, Channel 4 admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house." | However, Channel 4 admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house." |
HAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involved | HAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involved |
However, the explosion of media coverage has seen audience figures rise, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in on Monday, 4.5 million on Tuesday and 5.2 million on Wednesday - equalling the highest figure for this series since the live launch. | However, the explosion of media coverage has seen audience figures rise, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in on Monday, 4.5 million on Tuesday and 5.2 million on Wednesday - equalling the highest figure for this series since the live launch. |
Jackiey, Jade and Jack have made it clear they do not like Shilpa | Jackiey, Jade and Jack have made it clear they do not like Shilpa |
The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers. | The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers. |
Politicians have entered the row, with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jack Straw among those commenting on the programme. | |
The leader of Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has attacked Channel 4 over the Big Brother controversy, accusing the station of promoting a "circus of racism" and giving publicity to "louts". | The leader of Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has attacked Channel 4 over the Big Brother controversy, accusing the station of promoting a "circus of racism" and giving publicity to "louts". |
Former England batsman, Geoff Boycott, a friend of Shetty, told the BBC Asian Network that he was not impressed by what he had seen so far. | Former England batsman, Geoff Boycott, a friend of Shetty, told the BBC Asian Network that he was not impressed by what he had seen so far. |
"It is totally alien to most Asian girls, in particular Shilpa Shetty, who's known in India for being a really nice girl; she's not up her own self; she's not full of herself," he said. | "It is totally alien to most Asian girls, in particular Shilpa Shetty, who's known in India for being a really nice girl; she's not up her own self; she's not full of herself," he said. |
And the National Bullying helpline has reported a rise in phonecalls since the alleged bullying on Celebrity Big Brother. | And the National Bullying helpline has reported a rise in phonecalls since the alleged bullying on Celebrity Big Brother. |