LONDON (AFP) - A British reality television show vowed to clamp down on bullying and racist abuse on the programme, after complaints flooded in over the treatment of glamorous Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.
Top Indian actress Shetty, 31, is one of nine famous faces locked in a house for "Celebrity Big Brother," in which their activities are broadcast round the clock by Channel Four.
Britain's media watchdog Ofcom is probing a pile of complaints which is mounting by the hour over charges of racist bullying towards Shetty, who has regularly been reduced to tears by the antics of some of her fellow housemates.
And her treatment could be even debated in parliament after MP Keith Vaz tabled a early day motion, which are used by lawmakers to highlight an issue.
Shetty's accent has been mocked, a clique have ganged up against her and given her a tough time, made denigrating comments about Indian hygiene and viewers believe one housemate called her a "Paki" -- which Channel Four denies.
Ofcom has received 3,500 complaints about alleged racism towards Shetty -- around 100 times the number of complaints received over broadcast clips of the hanging of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Channel Four received a further 1,000 complaints.
"The social interactions and dynamics of the group are one of the key parts of the 'Big Brother' story and viewers have a right to see these portrayed accurately," insisted a spokesman for the hit show.
"However, this is balanced with our duty not to broadcast material that may cause unjustifiable offence.
"We take this matter very seriously. 'Big Brother' does not tolerate bullying or racist abuse. We are monitoring all the housemates and will take appropriate measures to reprimand such behaviour where necessary.
Viewers believe that Shetty has been targeted by Jade Goody, a previous "Big Brother" contestant noted for flaunting her ignorance, Danielle Lloyd, a deposed Miss Great Britain, and singer Jo O'Meara of S Club 7 fame.
Goody has said Shetty "makes my skin crawl", while Lloyd, stripped of her title for dating one of the judges -- former England footballer Teddy Sheringham -- has called her "a dog" and "just the cook".
O'Meara refused to eat a chicken roasted by Shetty because she claimed it was too spicy and undercooked, prompting the film star to burst into tears.
The singer said Indians were thin because they were always ill as a result of undercooking their food.
Lloyd asked: "They eat with their hands in India, don't they -- or is that China? You don't know where her hands have been."
Her spokesman and publicist insisted that the Bollywood queen was tough enough to take potentially nearly two more weeks of ostracism and said he was touched by the apparent public sympathy for her.
"It's very difficult to keep Shilpa down. She's strong enough to survive," Dale Bhagwagar told AFP. "There have been racist statements but knowing Shilpa, she will forgive and forget and move on in life.
But he added: "God forgive them; they know not what they do."
"Big Brother" is Channel Four's most popular programme and attracts near-blanket coverage in Britain's tabloid press.
Show producers sought out Shetty and reportedly paid her more than the others -- up to 350,000 pounds (675,000 dollars, 520,000 euros) -- to bring some Bollywood glamour to proceedings and attract viewers with south Asian roots.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse
Top Indian actress Shetty, 31, is one of nine famous faces locked in a house for "Celebrity Big Brother," in which their activities are broadcast round the clock by Channel Four.
Britain's media watchdog Ofcom is probing a pile of complaints which is mounting by the hour over charges of racist bullying towards Shetty, who has regularly been reduced to tears by the antics of some of her fellow housemates.
And her treatment could be even debated in parliament after MP Keith Vaz tabled a early day motion, which are used by lawmakers to highlight an issue.
Shetty's accent has been mocked, a clique have ganged up against her and given her a tough time, made denigrating comments about Indian hygiene and viewers believe one housemate called her a "Paki" -- which Channel Four denies.
Ofcom has received 3,500 complaints about alleged racism towards Shetty -- around 100 times the number of complaints received over broadcast clips of the hanging of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Channel Four received a further 1,000 complaints.
"The social interactions and dynamics of the group are one of the key parts of the 'Big Brother' story and viewers have a right to see these portrayed accurately," insisted a spokesman for the hit show.
"However, this is balanced with our duty not to broadcast material that may cause unjustifiable offence.
"We take this matter very seriously. 'Big Brother' does not tolerate bullying or racist abuse. We are monitoring all the housemates and will take appropriate measures to reprimand such behaviour where necessary.
Viewers believe that Shetty has been targeted by Jade Goody, a previous "Big Brother" contestant noted for flaunting her ignorance, Danielle Lloyd, a deposed Miss Great Britain, and singer Jo O'Meara of S Club 7 fame.
Goody has said Shetty "makes my skin crawl", while Lloyd, stripped of her title for dating one of the judges -- former England footballer Teddy Sheringham -- has called her "a dog" and "just the cook".
O'Meara refused to eat a chicken roasted by Shetty because she claimed it was too spicy and undercooked, prompting the film star to burst into tears.
The singer said Indians were thin because they were always ill as a result of undercooking their food.
Lloyd asked: "They eat with their hands in India, don't they -- or is that China? You don't know where her hands have been."
Her spokesman and publicist insisted that the Bollywood queen was tough enough to take potentially nearly two more weeks of ostracism and said he was touched by the apparent public sympathy for her.
"It's very difficult to keep Shilpa down. She's strong enough to survive," Dale Bhagwagar told AFP. "There have been racist statements but knowing Shilpa, she will forgive and forget and move on in life.
But he added: "God forgive them; they know not what they do."
"Big Brother" is Channel Four's most popular programme and attracts near-blanket coverage in Britain's tabloid press.
Show producers sought out Shetty and reportedly paid her more than the others -- up to 350,000 pounds (675,000 dollars, 520,000 euros) -- to bring some Bollywood glamour to proceedings and attract viewers with south Asian roots.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse