Conflicting views on Shilpa from Channel 4?

BizAsia.co.ukhas been inundated with emails from viewers who have been angered with the way Shilpa Shetty has been treated in the ‘Big Brother’ house.

This comes hours after Channel 4 screened the latest feud between Shilpa and fellow contestant Jade Goody in the controversial programme.

In the show aired on Wednesday (17th January 2007) at 21:00, readers of BizAsia.co.uk expressed their concerns about certain housemates�۪ intimidating behaviour towards the actress.

The episode in question, showed Shilpa upset over an argument with Jade. After the row, Shilpa was seen in the bedroom talking to housemate Jermaine Jackson about why she was being treated so differently and why she was so disliked by the other housemates.

She said; “Do you think they’re [Jade, Danielle, Jo and Jack] reacting to me like this because I’m Indian?” Jermaine then responded with; “No, its not that you’re Indian, its because you have class, and they want you to tell them what colour your underwear are, when did you first lose your virginity, all these questions they ask you. They want you to pass gas just like they do… So that makes you down because you disrespect yourself, don’t do that.”

In another conversation later, this time with Cleo, she indicated the reason for the continuous rows could be down to a culture clash and may even a racial one.

Shilpa: I’m representing my country. This is what today’s UK is? [Referring to the bullying] Scary. It�۪s quite a shame actually.

Cleo: I don�۪t think it�۪s to do with where you come from.

Shilpa: It is to do with that.

Cleo: No I think culturally and I really – I don�۪t think there’s anything racist in it.

Shilpa: It is. In a way. I’m telling you.

Cleo: It is because you come from such a different background.

Shilpa: Am I not human? What about me is so different? What about me? She [Jade] just aired all her insecurities.

Cleo: I know but I will have to say that Jade is not a racist and neither are the other girls. There’s nobody in here that is a racist. They are really not. But the culture thing at the way in which they communicate…

Shilpa: What is so different or difficult to understand? Have I been in anyway been condescending? Have I in anyway tried to show that I am one up on them?

In the same episode, Jade told the Bollywood actress: “Go back to the slums”.

Hours before the episode was screened, Channel 4 had issued a statement today saying that Shilpa Shetty had not voiced any concerns of racial abuse to ‘Big Brother’. A case of contradiction? Email your views to BizAsia.co.uk.

Channel 4’s full statement read as follow:

“To date 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.

“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 is in the nature of Big Brother that conflicts arise and housemates are encouraged to resolve issues among themselves.

“Shilpa has not voiced any concerns of racial abuse to Big Brother. Housemates have access to support from Big Brother at all times.

“The issue of whether there is racism in the CBB House has been discussed on Channel 4’s companion programmes CBBLB and BB’s BM and a range of views has been aired, including those of BB viewers.”

There’s possibility of further tension with both Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody being nominated up for eviction this week.

Keep it with BizAsia.co.uk for more.