Britain has condemned all forms of racism even as it put on record its admiration for Shilpa Shetty, for her dignified behaviour in the face of apparent bullying and racism on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.
LONDON: Britain has unequivocally condemned all forms of racism even as it put on record its admiration for Indian film star Shilpa Shetty, winner of 'Celebrity Big Brother', for her dignified behaviour in the face of apparent bullying and racism by some contestants in the show.
"I certainly join Keith Vaz, who had raised the issue, unequivocally in condemning all racism, wherever and whenever it takes place," Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Shaun Woodward told the House of Commons last night.
"I want to put on record our admiration for Shilpa Shetty. She is a woman who, even if we did not know her as a celebrity before, in the course of enduring those weeks in the house earned huge respect from many people throughout the country, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds," he said replying to a debate on Channel 4 which had telecast the show.
Praising Shilpa for her behaviour during the show, Woodward said Britain should not tolerate any form of racism.
Her resilience and dignity during what I have referred to as 'ghastly' weeks were as remarkable as the apparent bullying and racism were distasteful, grotesque and highly offensive, he said.
Referring to Indian-origin MP Keith Vaz's 'proud track record' of ensuring and fighting for equality, Woodward said, "I share his feelings about the need to root out racism."
Initiating the debate Vaz, the former Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the debate offered the House its first formal opportunity for a full and frank discussion about the issue.
Vaz noted that the Channel's 24-hour, seven-day-a-week coverage of celebrities isolated in a house in Hertfordshire attracted millions of viewers who had tuned in to see a narrative of human interaction.
"However, that series revealed a much uglier side to so-called reality television. It began with bullying, derogatory cultural references and blatant racist behaviour against the Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty from Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara. Two of them have since apologised for their behaviour."
Vaz recalled that over successive days and weeks Shetty was called 'Shilpa Poppodum', asked whether she lived in a 'house or a shack', told to 'go back to the slums' and repeatedly referred to as 'the Indian'.
"Those were the bits that were broadcast, although for the many hours of footage that were shown many more hours were not aired.
One wonders how much of it was in a similar vein," he said.
While more than 40,000 complaints were received by Ofcom, Britain's media regulator, "overall, the response of Channel 4 was pathetic, ineffective and derisory", Vaz said.
Referring to the two investigations that were going on into the episode, Vaz asked if either investigation reveals that Channel 4, either by act or omission, was in any way responsible for the broadcasting of racist material and failed to act appropriately. Will the Minister join me in expecting either the chairman or the chief executive, or both, to offer their immediate resignation?
){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}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}