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Racism row housemate apologises BB housemate denies being racist
(about 19 hours later)
Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word on the show. Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has denied she is a racist, a day after being removed from the Channel 4 show for using a racially offensive word.
In scenes filmed as she was being told to leave the Channel 4 show, the Bristol drama student said she had not meant the word in an offensive way. The Bristol drama student, 19, told the programme's sister show, Big Brother's Little Brother, she had been "completely wrong" and was "so sorry".
Emily, 19, said the word was "a friendly term" where she came from. Emily had earlier said the word was "a friendly term" where she came from.
Channel 4 boss Andy Duncan defended the decision to show Parr using the word, telling the BBC it was "very important that people don't just hear about it". Channel 4 said it had been important to show her using the word to a housemate to demonstrate its "unacceptability".
"This was an important issue that was raised by this, the complete unacceptability of the word used," he said on Radio 4's Today programme. On Friday, Emily told Big Brother's Little Brother's presenter Dermot O'Leary she understood why she had been removed from the house following the remark to Charley Uchea.
"I think it was entirely right to show it." People can take from it what they want, but at the end of the day I didn't mean it, I am not a racist Emily Parr
About 4.6m people tuned in to see the incident on Thursday night, according to unofficial overnight figures, prompting 140 complaints to Ofcom. "[What I said] was completely wrong," she said. "There is no denying that whatsoever. I am so sorry."
The channel said it had received 922 complaints from viewers, who said Emily should not have been thrown out of the house. A further 68 viewers called to agree with the broadcaster's decision. She said she was not a racist, explaining she had "plenty of friends from different backgrounds" and that what she had said had been "a word that gets chucked back and forth in everyday life".
This week's eviction, in which Emily was nominated alongside fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani, has been suspended. She added she was "devastated and ashamed" about what had happened.
Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either housemate. Charley Uchea is the cousin of footballer Kieran Richardson
In place of the eviction, two new housemates will be introduced to the show on Friday night. "I am very much aware there are people all over the country who have taken offence to it.
All that has been revealed about them so far is that one is teetotal and the second once visited Hillary Clinton at the White House in Washington and wrote her a poem. "People can take from it what they want, but at the end of the day I didn't mean it, I am not a racist. Charley is a great person, as are all my black friends."
'Joking around' About 4.6m people tuned in to see the incident screened on Thursday night, according to unofficial overnight figures, prompting 140 complaints to Ofcom.
Charley Uchea is the cousin of footballer Kieran RichardsonEmily said: "You're pushing it out, you nigger," to Charley Uchea while they were sitting in the garden on Wednesday evening. Emily was seen saying: "You're pushing it out, you nigger," to Charley while they were sitting in the garden on Wednesday evening.
When called to the show's diary room to explain what had happened, Emily said she and Charley, together with fellow housemate Nicky Maxwell, had been joking around.When called to the show's diary room to explain what had happened, Emily said she and Charley, together with fellow housemate Nicky Maxwell, had been joking around.
HAVE YOUR SAY If the situation with Shilpa Shetty had not occurred earlier this year this current furore would not be treated with such seriousness PO Sullivan, London Send us your comments
She said it was a "friendly term" where she came from, "not a hurtful word" and that she had not meant it in an offensive way.She said it was a "friendly term" where she came from, "not a hurtful word" and that she had not meant it in an offensive way.
When Big Brother put it to Emily that the word could be deemed offensive she said: "Yeah, I totally understand. It wasn't the smartest move to make." Channel 4 boss Andy Duncan later defended the decision to show what happened.
I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively Emily Parr Big Brother told her the word was "seriously unacceptable" before telling her she would be removed from the house. "This was an important issue that was raised by this, the complete unacceptability of the word used," he said on BBC Radio 4's Today.
Emily said: "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. What about my stuff? Oh my gosh. I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively." This week's eviction, in which Emily was nominated alongside fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani, has been suspended.
'Unhelpful' Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either housemate.
Angela Jain, head of the Big Brother commissioning team, said: "The word 'nigger' is clearly racially offensive and there was no justification for its use." In place of the eviction, two new housemates will be introduced to the show on Friday.
HAVE YOUR SAY If the situation with Shilpa Shetty had not occurred earlier this year this current furore would not be treated with such seriousness PO Sullivan, London Send us your comments The decision to remove Emily was taken in the wake of the alleged racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.
The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) said Channel 4 was right to react because most people found the word offensive, even if some did not.
"The real issue for me is that a word like that is still commonly used by some people, and someone felt it was appropriate to say in that kind of environment," said the CRE's head of policy, Nick Johnson.
But pressure group Mediawatch condemned Channel 4's decision to broadcast the word.
National spokesman Dave Turtle said: "They shouldn't broadcast any material which is racially offensive.
THE EDITORS' BLOG Why did some parts of the BBC transmit the word, while some did not? Simon Waldman,Morning editor, BBC News 24 Simon's comments in fullTHE EDITORS' BLOG Why did some parts of the BBC transmit the word, while some did not? Simon Waldman,Morning editor, BBC News 24 Simon's comments in full
"This will certainly undermine the programme and more importantly, cause resentment. It's very unhelpful." The decision to remove Emily was taken in the wake of the alleged racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.
In response to viewer queries on the Channel 4 website, the broadcaster said it had provided Emily with support following her exit from the programme. The Commission for Racial Equality said Channel 4 was right to react because most people found the word offensive, even if some did not.
"Channel 4 and the production company are looking after her and making sure she has access to friends, family and good advice about how to handle the media now she is outside the house," a spokesperson said. But pressure group Mediawatch condemned Channel 4's decision to broadcast the word.
National spokesman Dave Turtle said: "They shouldn't broadcast any material which is racially offensive."