Redhotcurry - News. Sponsor pulls the plug but BB Executives remain silent.

Newsagency Reuters today (18 Jan 2007) reported that Carphone Warehouse, Europe's biggest mobile phone retailer, has pulled its sponsorship on Thursday of a reality TV 'Big Brother' which has been dogged by accusations of racism after Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty faced a tirade of abuse from fellow contestants.

Carphone Warehouse said it did not want its name associated with claims of racist bullying, and was pulling out of this series. It has already paid £3 million pounds for a year's sponsorship of this series and another one in the summer.

Channel 4 executives have not commented on the growing discontent other than to issue a a release stating "To date (17 Jan 2007) there has been no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour directed against Shilpa Shetty within the Big Brother house. However there has undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house."

CHANNEL 4 STATEMENT IS ABSURD

Responding to the Channel Four statement about the treatment of Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother house Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: 'Channel Four’s statement today pretending that they cannot decide if there is racism in Celebrity Big Brother is absurd, and their failure to take any action to put a stop to the racism on this show is an evasion of the responsibilities of a broadcasting company.

'The withdrawal of Carphone Warehouse sponsorship is welcome and their decision should stand until the present situation on the show is ended.

'All those who have made racist comments about or towards Shilpa Shetty should be immediately evicted by Endemol. Channel Four should have insisted on this as a minimum requirement for continuing to broadcast it.

'In order to defend their right to broadcast the treatment of Shilpa Shetty Channel Four has sought to deny that there is racism. This claim is irresponsible, self-serving and patently untrue. Ms Shetty has been subjected to sustained racism. Contestants have said: “You need elocution lessons. You need a day in the slums”; “she wants to be white”; “Do you live in a house or a shack?”; “is it India where they eat with their hands? Or is that China”; her accent has been mocked; it has been claimed that Indians were thin because they were always ill as a result of undercooking food; one contestant repeatedly referred to her as "the Indian" and refused to pronounce her name; she has been called a “dog”. Shilpa Shetty herself complained on the programme that the behaviour is racist.

PUT AN END TO THIS TYPE OF BROADCASTING SAYS MAYOR

'The reality is that the racism in the Big Brother house has intensified over recent days. 'Channel Four and Endemol by their behaviour are also damaging Britain abroad and in India in particular.

'Ofcom as the broadcasting regulatory authority should now intervene to put an end to the broadcasting as entertainment the racist bullying and harassment on"

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive,today said “We are monitoring the situation very, very closely. Clearly what's happening is very serious. Any allegation of racism is a serious matter. In those circumstances we will of course be taking the matter further. We would expect to write to C4 shortly and then we will listen to what Channel 4 have to say. In the meantime it’s Channel 4's responsibility to respond to what are clearly significant viewer concerns.”

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