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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 on the show. | Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word on the show. |
| 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. | 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, 19, said the word was "a friendly term" where she came from. | Emily, 19, 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 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". |
| "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. | "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. |
| "I think it was entirely right to show it." | "I think it was entirely right to show it." |
| About 4.6m people tuned in to see the incident on Thursday night, according to unofficial overnight figures, prompting 140 complaints to Ofcom. | |
| This week's eviction, in which Emily was nominated alongside fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani, has been suspended. | This week's eviction, in which Emily was nominated alongside fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani, has been suspended. |
| Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either housemate. | Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either housemate. |
| In place of the eviction, two new housemates will be introduced to the show on Friday night. | In place of the eviction, two new housemates will be introduced to the show on Friday night. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Joking around' | 'Joking around' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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." | 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 Big Brother told her the word was "seriously unacceptable" before telling her she would be removed from the house. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Unhelpful' | 'Unhelpful' |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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 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. | "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. | 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. | 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." | "This will certainly undermine the programme and more importantly, cause resentment. It's very unhelpful." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |