With the exception of Mr E. none of my regular reads seem to have picked up on this story. I suspect there's more than a little cultural snobbery in that and while I certainly didn't envisage posting on Celebrity Big Brother myself, having just caught the start of the lunchtime ITN news which led on the story with a statement from Gordon Brown and the Indian Government, I think it merits some comment.
"Celebrity Big Brother (daily, C4) is one of those totemic shows people define themselves by. Haughty types who consider it a glaring affront to humanity argue over which of them watches it the least... At the other end of the scale, self-confessed trash addicts fight about how gloriously tacky they find it... Frustratingly, I'm somewhere in the middle. I think it's neither a work of lowbrow genius, nor a genuine harbinger of cultural death. I think it's a TV show."
I haven't watched it all but I've seen enough to have a perspective on the current row and Shilpa Shetty is the victim of racist bullying. Understandably the word that's generating all the heat here is racism (because of course plain old 'bullying' would be OK!?!) so it's important to define our terms. There seems to be a school of thought that without clear intent, rooted in a conscious political belief in the superiority of one race over another, racism accusations don't stand up. When paired with the obvious fact that none of the accused housemates (Danielle, Jo & Jade) are particularly bright this might seem reasonable enough. To my mind though this is too simplistic and narrow a definition for racism. Most of the offensive comments directed at Shilpa are rooted in or directly reference her ethnicity - referring to her as 'the Indian', assuming that because she's dark skinned she 'lives in a shack' (I think she's worth about £15m!), mocking her accent, grilling here over her 'servants' (the clear implication being you'd expect her to be one not have her own) etc. are all rooted in an outlook clouded by her race (is no-one bothered about where 'H' lives?).
It's also true, as some people have pointed out, there's a significant class element to the bullying and I suspect, given Shilpa's appearance, more than a litle envy - this may particularly explain Daniella's behaviour since she clearly entered the house with the belief that she'd get all the male attention from fellow housemates and the media.
The real culprit here though is of course Channel 4 - their claim that they won't tolerate racism or bullying rings hollow when it's clear that they define those concepts very narrowly and then, for reasons of publicity, are happy to sail extremely close to those limits. It is racist bullying and there's no excuse but I can't say I'm surprised by the housemates behaviour - I am by Channel 4's.
Labels: Media
7 Comments:
I think I agree with you. I've only seen clips here but it does appear to be both racism and bullying. It just shows the depths people will descend to when they know they are being watched. I'm sure there's a lot of jealousy at the root of it too. The story is being reported in Italy, too, where a version of BB is hugely popular. I don't watch it in either country - it just sends me to sleep.
I am a UK practicing psychologist and I am truly disgusted that channel 4 has allowed such footage to be viewed. I specialise in violence and abuse and cultural issues and have first hand experience of working with those that have been bullied and those that have been the victims of racial abuse. This is not just an issue for the Asian community but everyone. Do people think it is really ok to watch potential role models (such as Jo from S Club- a band and programme that was targeted at a CHILD audience) to be allowed to continue this way?
In their statement today Channel 4 says that there has been a ‘culture and class clash’ in the big brother house. In my opinion (and that of my Asian and non Asian friends) this is simply a way of dressing up ‘RACISM and BULLYING’. In their statement (as highlighted on the television) they haven’t acknowledged Shilpa’s distress or even ABUSE. I also couldn’t help but notice last night how Big brother were quick in comforting Jo after her panic attack, yet didn’t seem to show much of the same concern for Shilpa. What does this say about the programme makers / producers at channel 4?
The Channel 4 statement goes on to say that there has been no ‘OVERT RACIAL ABUSE directed towards Shilpa in the house. This is also clearly untrue. Throughout the episodes Shilpa has been referred to as the ‘Indian’ and various other names. OVERT derogatory references have been made on the basis of her ETHNIC BACKGROUND and her culture (e.g. ‘do Indians eat with their hands?’). This has frankly offended a whole community and also many from outside that community.
The ignorance that has been described in the house is also hard to believe. London is a cosmopolitan city and Jo, Jade and Danielle have all had contact with the place. I find it hard to believe that they ask such spiteful and malicious questions about the Indian community.. a) truly wanting to seek the answers or b) really being so clueless to not know…. Is channel 4 honestly going to try and interpret these comments as IGNORANCE? It’s not ignorant it’s RACIST.
Channel 4’s attitude is shocking and sick, in that they have demonstrated that they think it is ok to show such footage commenting that it has increased the numbers of viewers. Big brother has increased viewers as people from all communities are tuning in to see just how far they will allow this to go. I am an example of this. I don’t normally watch the programme, but as a British Citizen and in the name of humanity I have felt a sense of responsibility to watch the programme to monitor it and speak out as have many others. This has now become an international issue, but that does not seem enough to stop Channel 4. At what cost have they increased their viewers? Is it really OK to cash in as a result of a persons sheer distress?
Shilpa has not overtly reported that she is the victim of abuse or racism, but this doesn’t mean that the producers don’t have a duty of responsibility to her. I can tell you as a psychologist that abuse is seductive and self esteem destroying to the point where victims are often even unable to recognise and label it while it is happening. This is even more confusing for Shilpa being thrown into totally different context. Struggling with such a context should NOT be explained away as a ‘CULTURAL / CLASS CLASH’.
This simply takes responsibility away from the actions of individuals and places it with an imaginary Euro centric term. Also victims of bullying are unlikely to walk up to someone and simply spell out what is happening to them. Shilpa is simply trying to cope with the hostile situation that she has been placed in. In my opinion, Channel 4 is simply sending out a message that says it is ok to be a bully and ok to be a racist and that such behaviour bring rewards (when actually we need to be focusing on accountability). Is that what this country really wants?
Channel 4 describe big brother as a ‘Social Experiment’. I can tell you that as a psychologist, such an experiment that places people under such high levels of stress and inflicts psychological harm would not be permitted under ethics. How a group of people parading as social scientists are allowed to proceed with such behaviour is seriously worrying.
Shilpa signed up for big brother (and is being paid) just like everyone else did. She didn’t sign up to be racially abused, bullied or harassed. There is a big difference between ‘CONTROVERSY’ that entertain the public and that programme makers want to generate, and ABUSE. What we are witnessing is abuse, and this is completely unacceptable.
Thanks Welshcakes...
Thanks also anonymous - usually anonymous posters are abusive or flippant and there's never any desire to know more about them anyway. Couldn't be less the case with your insightful contribution - you should get a blog..!
Of course it is racism and I find it hugely embarrassing. What must the three foreign celebrities be thinking? To be confronted by these three retards, the idiot boyfriend (“what’s an envryo?”) and Jade Goody’s vile mother. The only good thing that may come of all this, is that hopefully it will put an end to their ‘Z’ list celebrity status and it will be last we see and hear of them.
I am an Indian, from the extreme North-eastern state of the country.
Shilpa Shetty has been treated miserably there. Well, Indians face such problems in European countries off and on. Then how about racism in the home country, India? India is one of the most aggressive countries in the world. People of mainstream India treats people from the North-eastern states as being coming from Nepal, or some other planets, the fact being there's a great difference in culture and facial appearance. North-eastern Indians are being called "Chinkies (meaning "small-eyed", Bahadur, Nepalis" by their own brothers in the mainland.
This has to find a "full stop" first at home. Then to Europe.
Big Brother (and other shows) sell because they deliberately engineer controversy, confrontation and sensationalism. The makers knew that by putting this particular mix of thick bigotry together with asian culture would create exactly the situation that now exists.
I never excuse racism on the grounds of ignorance - children from an early age may be ignorant but they aren't born racist. Racism is something that is taught by adults either indirectly by experience or directly by indoctrination.
The bigots in the Big Brother house fully understand the concepts and are being deliberately and knowingly racist -and Channel 4 revels in that because it was exactly what they set out to create!
I would finally say to Anonymous from India that racism is wrong and unjustifiable wherever it occurs and therefore we must never condone it in our own homes just because it may be occuring somewhere else.
Agree with all the critical comment but am sure this is more to do with envy, competitiveness and lack of education. The three 'witches' are clearly less good looking and less accomplished than Shilpa and what we see is just naked envy of a composed and beautiful young Indian. I'm sure Ms Goody will lose out big time for her awful attitude and serve her right.
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