Racism charge blows up on British TV show - again Posted on A British reality television show expelled a contestant Thursday for using racist language, just months after it was caught in a row over alleged racist bullying towards a Bollywood star. Channel 4 was forced to apologise to viewers at the start of this series of "Big Brother," a worldwide hit format, following an international furore over its celebrity edition in January. Britain's communications watchdog Ofcom found Channel 4 guilty of "serious editorial misjudgement" over the incidents in which Indian actress Shilpa Shetty was allegedly the victim of racist bullying by other contestants.
In the latest incident, Parr was dancing with Charley Uchea -- a black 21-year-old self-proclaimed "it" girl -- and Indian-born accounts executive Nicky Maxwell. "Are you pushing it out, you n**ger?" said Parr, according to a transcript released by Channel 4.
"Em, I can't believe you said that," Maxwell replied. "You are in trouble," said Uchea, before the trio debated Parr's outburst. Channel 4 said that Parr was unceremoniously removed from its top show at around 3:30 am for "using a racially offensive word to a fellow housemate.
" "Emily immediately made clear that she had not intended to offend and that the comment had been meant as a joke," the broadcaster said in a statement. "In discussing what she had said, Charley and Nicky agreed that they were not personally offended, although both did express shock at the language she had used." Parr had broken the rules on acceptable contestant behaviour.
"Unacceptable behaviour includes behaving in a way that could cause serious offence to either their fellow housemates or members of the viewing public, including serious offence based on the grounds of race," Channel 4 said. "Big Brother" locks a diverse group of people in a house under 24-hour camera surveillance. Viewers vote out contestants one by one.
Parr had been nominated for eviction by her fellow housemates. Angela Jain, who heads Channel 4's "Big Brother" commissioning team, said: "In the wake of 'Celebrity Big Brother', we must consider the potential offence to viewers, regardless of Emily's intentions and her housemates' response. "The word n**ger is clearly racially offensive and there was no justification for its use.
We have removed Emily from the house to once again make it clear to all housemates and the viewers at home that such behaviour won't be tolerated." Jain later told Sky News television that Channel 4 did not want Parr to be "hung out to dry.
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