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Shetty fears Big Brother 'racism' Shetty fears Big Brother 'racism'
(about 1 hour later)
Celebrity Big Brother housemate Shilpa Shetty has spoken for the first time of fears that she is a victim of racism.Celebrity Big Brother housemate Shilpa Shetty has spoken for the first time of fears that she is a victim of racism.
Fellow contestant Jade Goody told the actress: "Go back to the slums" in a row that erupted over stock cubes. Fellow contestant Jade Goody told the actress to "go back to the slums", in a row that erupted over stock cubes.
Shetty later told housemate Cleo Rocos that she feared she was being targeted because of her race.Shetty later told housemate Cleo Rocos that she feared she was being targeted because of her race.
Reports say Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the next Celebrity Big Brother evictions, with Goody 1-5 favourite to get the boot.Reports say Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the next Celebrity Big Brother evictions, with Goody 1-5 favourite to get the boot.
The nominations come as the latest argument threatens to escalate the international row that has broken out over the show.The nominations come as the latest argument threatens to escalate the international row that has broken out over the show.
Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following yesterday's row, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it." 'Go home'
Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following Wednesday's row, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it."
But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you."But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you."
In a statement, Channel 4 said there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour," despite more than 21,000 complaints from the public. However, Jade Goody's spokeswoman has denied Goody's behaviour is motivated by racism.
"I have not heard Jade say anything that could be interpreted as a racist remark.
"I am not denying the fact that it appears Jade dislikes Shilpa, but I don'tbelieve her race is the reason."
Contestant Danielle Lloyd also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home".
Jackiey, Jade and Jack have made it clear they do not like Shilpa
In a statement, Channel 4 said there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour," despite more than 27,000 complaints from the public to media regulator Ofcom - a record number.
"Unambiguous racist behaviour and language is not tolerated under any circumstances in the Big Brother house. Housemates are constantly monitored and Channel 4 would intervene if a clear instance of this arose," it said.
Cultural clash
However, the channel admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural clash between her and three of the British females in the house".
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said they were taking the complaints "seriously" but said he was "not going to conduct a kangaroo court".
"One can think of other circumstances when people have rushed to judgment and repented at leisure," he added.
HAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involvedHAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involved
Complaints have flooded in since housemate Goody, her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweedy; model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club singer Jo O'Meara allegedly began bullying the 31-year-old star. He said they would write to Channel 4 in the forthcoming weeks. The channel will then have "a few weeks" to respond.
Complaints have flooded in since housemate Goody, her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweedy; model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club singer Jo O'Meara allegedly began allegedly bullying the 31-year-old actress last weekend.
Shetty has been a victim of regular sniping, has been branded a "dog", and told to clean out the toilet with her teeth by one housemate.Shetty has been a victim of regular sniping, has been branded a "dog", and told to clean out the toilet with her teeth by one housemate.
Lloyd asked whether she has "stubble", while Budden asked whether she lived in a house or a shack. Lloyd asked whether she has "stubble", while Budden, who has now been evicted from the house, asked whether she lived in a house or a shack.
The National Bullying helpline has reported a rise in phonecalls since the alleged bullying on Celebrity Big Brother.
Viewing figures
However, the explosion of media coverage has seen audience figures rise, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in on Monday, 4.5 million on Tuesday and 5.2 million on Wednesday - equalling the highest figure for this series since the live launch.
Wednesday's row blew up when Shetty asked if there were any remaining stock cubes.Wednesday's row blew up when Shetty asked if there were any remaining stock cubes.
Protesters burned effigies at a small demonstration in India
She sparked a furious reaction from Goody, Lloyd and O'Meara when she said it was the only food she had ordered on the house shopping list.She sparked a furious reaction from Goody, Lloyd and O'Meara when she said it was the only food she had ordered on the house shopping list.
Goody, 25, retaliated by calling Shetty a liar; O'Meara and Lloyd began to laugh.Goody, 25, retaliated by calling Shetty a liar; O'Meara and Lloyd began to laugh.
Protesters burned effigies at a small demonstration in India
After an exchange of words with Shetty, in which Shetty told Goody she needed elocution lessons, Goody launched into an expletive-ridden rant to Lloyd and O'Meara in which she said "fake" Shetty needed "a day in the slums".After an exchange of words with Shetty, in which Shetty told Goody she needed elocution lessons, Goody launched into an expletive-ridden rant to Lloyd and O'Meara in which she said "fake" Shetty needed "a day in the slums".
She added: "Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real."She added: "Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real."
Indian reaction
The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers.The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers.
India has also asked Britain to check whether any race laws have been broken. Former England batsman, Geoff Boycott, a friend of Shetty, told the BBC Asian Network that he was not impressed by what he had seen so far.
Chancellor Gordon Brown said that the issue had been raised repeatedly during his trip to the country, adding: "I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn." "It is totally alien to most Asian girls, in particular Shilpa Shetty, who's known in India for being a really nice girl; she's not up her own self; she's not full of herself," he said.
Prime Minister Tony Blair - who has not seen the episodes in question - told the Commons that "we should oppose racism in all its forms", while Conservative leader David Cameron urged viewers to switch off in protest.
'Culture Clash'
Mr Cameron told BBC Scotland: "I haven't watched this series, I don't intend to, but anyone who does and who doesn't like this racism, there's a great regulator, its called the 'off' button."
In their statement, Channel 4 said Shetty had not voiced any concerns of racial abuse to Big Brother.In their statement, Channel 4 said Shetty had not voiced any concerns of racial abuse to Big Brother.
However, it admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house."
"Unambiguous racist behaviour and language is not tolerated under any circumstances in the Big Brother house. Housemates are constantly monitored and Channel 4 would intervene if a clear instance of this arose," it said.
Ofcom said it had received about 19,300 complaints about Celebrity Big Brother - a record for a television broadcast. A further 2,000 have been made directly to Channel 4.