20,000 join BB racism protest

5 April 2012

At least 20,000 viewers have joined the outcry over 'racist bullying' of an Indian star in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

More than 7,600 complaints about the treatment of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty were received by TV regulator Ofcom by yesterday evening.

A petition signed by more than 10,000 people was sent to Channel 4. The broadcaster received another 2,000 phone and e-mail complaints. One viewer even took his grievances to the police.

Labour MP Keith Vaz tabled an early day motion in the Commons about the behaviour on the show.

Carphone Warehouse is also reviewing its £3million sponsorship of Big Brother and its celebrity spin-off.

Boss Charles Dunstone said: 'We are talking to Channel 4. Clearly, we are against racism.'

The row blew up after housemates Jo O'Meara, Danielle Lloyd and Jade Goody appeared to gang up on 31-year-old Shetty.

Former S Club 7 member O'Meara, 27, mocked her accent and said Indians were thin because they always undercooked their food. 'They eat with their hands in India, don't they - or is that China?' asked model Lloyd, 23, adding with a sneer: 'You don't know where her hands have been.'

Viewers claimed Channel 4 bleeped out a clip when Goody's boyfriend, Jack Tweedy, 19, called the actress a 'Paki' but the broadcaster insisted it was because he had used the C-word.

Evictee Jackiey Budden - Goody's mother - referred to Shetty as 'The Indian', telling a magazine: 'I would still love to squeeze her neck until her eyes pop out.'

The Act Against Bullying charity has now dropped Goody, 25, as its patron.

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