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Racism row housemate apologises Racism row housemate apologises
(about 1 hour later)
Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word to another housemate on the reality show.Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word to another housemate on the reality show.
In scenes filmed as she was being told to leave the Channel 4 show, the 19-year-old drama student said she had not meant the word in an offensive way. 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.
Emily, of Bristol, said the word was "a friendly term" where she came from. Emily, 19, said the word was "a friendly term" where she came from.
Her comment to a black housemate was aired on Thursday night, but the show was prefaced by a warning. Two new contestants will enter the Big Brother house later. This week's eviction has been suspended.
Channel 4 spokeswoman had said earlier in the day that "such behaviour won't be tolerated". Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either Emily or fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani.
This week's eviction vote, in which Emily had been nominated along with Shabnam Paryani, has been suspended. Viewers will get their first glimpse of the newcomers during Friday night's Channel 4 show.
Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either Emily or Shabnam. 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.
Charley Uchea is the cousin of footballer Kieran Richardson 'Joking around'
In Thursday night's highlights programme, the word Emily used was aired the first time - to give the context of the conversation - but was cut thereafter. 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 said: "You're pushing it out, you nigger," to Charley Uchea 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.
Emily was later called into the programme's diary room.
When asked to explain what happened, she said she and Charley, together with fellow housemate Nicky Maxwell, had been joking around.
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.
'No justification'
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."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."
I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively Emily Parr I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively Emily Parr class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6508&edition=1&ttl=20070607144100">Send us your comments
Big Brother told her the word was "seriously unacceptable" before telling her she would be removed from the house.Big Brother told her the word was "seriously unacceptable" before telling her she would be removed from the house.
Emily said: "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. 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."
"What about my stuff? Oh my gosh." 'Unhelpful'
She added: "I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively." 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 consultation with broadcast executives, the decision was taken to remove Emily from the house because she had breached rules governing contestant behaviour. A Channel 4 spokeswoman had said earlier in the day that "such behaviour won't be tolerated".
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."
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 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 said Channel 4 was right to react because most people found the word offensive, even if some did not.
"Some of the black community have taken that word back, as they say, and use it when the majority of us find it an offensive term," Colleen Harris, director of strategy and communications, told GMTV.
"Perhaps now Big Brother has acted other broadcasters will take notice."
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.
"This will certainly undermine the programme and more importantly, cause resentment. It's very unhelpful."