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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Racism row housemate apologises | Racism row housemate apologises |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word to another housemate on the reality show. | Big Brother contestant Emily Parr has been shown apologising for using a racially offensive word to another housemate on the reality 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. |
| Two new contestants will enter the Big Brother house later. This week's eviction has been suspended. | Two new contestants will enter the Big Brother house later. This week's eviction has been suspended. |
| Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either Emily or fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani. | Channel 4 has offered to refund viewers who have already called telephone lines to evict either Emily or fellow contestant Shabnam Paryani. |
| Viewers will get their first glimpse of the newcomers during Friday night's Channel 4 show. | Viewers will get their first glimpse of the newcomers during Friday night's Channel 4 show. |
| 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. | 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." |
| A Channel 4 spokeswoman had said earlier in the day that "such behaviour won't be tolerated". | A Channel 4 spokeswoman had said earlier in the day that "such behaviour won't be tolerated". |
| 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 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 said Channel 4 was right to react because most people found the word offensive, even if some did not. | The Commission for Racial Equality said Channel 4 was right to react because most people found the word offensive, even if some did not. |
| "Some of the black community have taken that word back, as they say, and use it when the majority of us find it an offensive term," Colleen Harris, director of strategy and communications, told GMTV. | "Some of the black community have taken that word back, as they say, and use it when the majority of us find it an offensive term," Colleen Harris, director of strategy and communications, told GMTV. |
| "Perhaps now Big Brother has acted other broadcasters will take notice." | "Perhaps now Big Brother has acted other broadcasters will take notice." |
| 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." |