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Big Brother sponsor suspends deal 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. Carphone Warehouse has suspended sponsorship of Celebrity Big Brother following allegations of racism towards actress Shilpa Shetty on the C4 show.
The company said its sponsorship would be removed from the current series "with immediate effect".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. But Channel Four chief executive Andy Duncan said at a press conference they would not be pulling the series.
"Clearly what is happening is very serious," said Ofcom's chief executive Ed Richards. "We cannot with certainty say that the comments directed at Shilpa have been racially motivated," he said.
A record 30,000 complaints have been made over alleged racist remarks towards Indian actress and Big Brother contestant Shetty. "This morning we have clarified with Shilpa, and unequivocally, she does not believe the treatment she has received is racially motivated.
Three of her fellow housemates have been accused of racist behaviour, with Jade Goody receiving the brunt of the public criticism. "She thinks it is socially and culturally motivated," he added.
However a spokeswoman for Goody, 25, who had an explosive row with Shetty on Wednesday, has denied she is a racist. He said "it is unquestionably a good thing that the programme has raised these issues and provoked such a debate. These attitudes, however distasteful, do persist - we need to confront that truth."
Shetty, 31 is award-winning Bollywood actress Goody joined the house with her mother and boyfriend Jack Tweed
Mr Duncan said they were constantly monitoring the show and that contestants Danielle Lloyd and Jade Goody had been spoken to in the Big Brother diary room about how their comments might be perceived.
A record 30,000 complaints have been made over alleged racist remarks towards Shetty.
Three of Shetty's fellow housemates have been accused of racist behaviour, with Goody, 25, receiving the brunt of public criticism.
Eviction
Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the forthcoming Celebrity Big Brother evictions on Friday, with Goody 1-5 favourite to be evicted.
An explosive row between the reality TV star and the Bollywood actress was broadcast on Wednesday.
Goody told fellow contestants Lloyd and Jo O'Meara that "fake" Shetty needed "a day in the slums". She added: "Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real."
Former beauty queen Lloyd has also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home" , adding that "she can't even speak English properly".
Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said in a statement: "Our concern has rapidly mounted about the broadcast behaviour of individuals within the Big Brother 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
"We had already made it clear to Channel 4 that were this to continue, we would have to consider our position."
"Nothing we saw last night gave us any comfort," he added.
The Perfume Shop has also decided to withdraw sales of Jade's perfume from its shelves following the controversy.
However, a spokeswoman for Goody has denied she is a racist.
"I would urge anyone who says that Jade is a racist to produce the evidence to support the claim," she said on Thursday."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". Protesters burned effigies at a small demonstration in India
The Carphone Warehouse decision 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.
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 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".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. On Wednesday's show, Shetty told housemate Cleo Rocos 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 which began 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. Lloyd, 23, was briefly Miss Great Britain last year
'Go home' More than 27,000 complaints have been made so far to media regulator Ofcom and 3,000 directly to the Channel 4.
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.
"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."
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
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.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.
"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.