Racist bullying of Shilpa has exploded into political and forums with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both being asked to condemn the programme.
LONDON: Racist bullying of Shilpa Shetty in the Celebrity Big Brother house has exploded into political and diplomatic forums with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown both being asked to condemn the programme.
Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, asked the PM during question hour in Parliament on Wednesday whether he condemned the incident. Blair, while admitting that he doesn’t watch the programme, said Britons “should oppose racism in all its forms”.
Brown, who is currently on a visit to India, reported back to the PM that he is being repeatedly asked about it, which is proving embarrassing at a time when he is trying to improve bilateral ties with India.
Treasury Minister Ed Balls said the CBB programme had gone sour and “the kind of image it is projecting of Britain around the world is damaging”. Balls said he was “appalled” by the behaviour of the housemates towards Shetty.
Shetty, who entered the house two weeks ago, has endured bullying and bitching by four housemates and has repeatedly burst into tears while conducting herself with dignity and poise. After yet another incident on Tuesday, she lost her cool and told her main tormentor, Jade Goody, to ‘shut up’.
On Wednesday, TV regulator Ofcom said it couldn’t intervene in the programme despite the volume of complaints until their investigative procedure is completed, which could take up to several weeks. But the programme will end in just over another week.
Carphone Warehouse, one of the main promoters of CBB, has said they could withdraw their sponsorship if they find the allegations of racism are valid. Carphone Warehouse gives £3 million a year to CBB. A spokesman said that while they cannot be held responsible for what the housemates are saying, the content of the programme can have a negative impact on the sponsor’s image.
Hertfordshire police have confirmed that they have received complaints of two e-mail threats against housemates.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}