So, Jade Goody has been predictably voted out of the Big Brother house for her bullying and racist slights against Shilpa Shetty. In what has been a turbulent week for the reality show, last night saw the climax – possibly the first of many – in the race row. The crowd were not present to ensure "the safety of the contestants" (although it was obvious that this meant Jade and not Ms Shetty) which left the show with a very strange atmosphere indeed.
Goody tried to smooth over the furore in her interview with Davina, but it all felt a bit like someone trying to fix multiple stab-wounds with a sticking plaster. "I’m disgusted at myself," admitted Jade to Davina during the post-eviction interview. After seeing the footage, she squirmed "That footage is nasty. I’m not a racist. I sincerely – hand on heart – apologise to anyone I’ve offended out there." She continued "I don’t approve of any of the words that come out of my mouth… my actions… I can’t defend myself." If Goody was unaware of the effect her words would have, Shetty was not. In one exchange before the eviction, she told Goody she did not think her a racist, but added: "You said it, its going to be out and a lot of Indians heard it. Trust me, it’s not going to go down well." But what is everyone else’s reaction?
Jade seemed reasonably pleased with the fact that "Shilpa [told me] I’m not a racist." However, Shilpa has not seen the footage of things said behind her back. Jade was given a carefully stage-managed exit after an overwhelming 82 per cent of the public voted for her to go.
It’s notable Davina McCall – who shares the same agent as Jade, and Big Brother spin-off hosts Dermot O’Leary and Russell Brand – ensured that Goody had a relatively easy ride out of the house.
In the aftermath, Jade hasn’t been such an easy time of it with The Sun branding her as "vile" and a "dim-wit" whose "sick antics" has left "TV bosses desperately trying to salvage Jade’s battered reputation". These thoughts came only one day after their ‘Evict the Face of Hate’ headline which urged readers of the tabloid to vote her out.
The Independent noted how McCall’s presentation of the show had taken on a defensive air. After showing a montage of the news coverage over the row, she pointed out that everyone up to the Prime Minister himself had felt free to give their opinions on the programme: "But that’s what democracy is all about … and you know what? So is Big Brother. Now, that’s power in the hands of the people, isn’t it?"
The Indy added "Somehow, the sense that it was a time for urgent damage-control had penetrated into the house itself as Big Brother’s pointedly leading questions in the diary room alerted Jade to the possibility that not everybody would be as approving of her argumentative style as her factional foot-soldiers inside."
The Daily Mail picked up on this theme also, speculating that Shilpa had been manipulated into saying she did not feel the victim of racism in a 90 minute chat by executives. The paper also highlighted that Big Brother fans have been accusing Channel 4 bosses of breaking the rules in a bid to salvage the career of Miss Goody.
The Mail wrote "Contestants are supposed to be unaware of events outside the house, but one comment in the programme’s official Internet forum, said: ‘Those girls have definitely been tipped off regarding racism and it’s so two-faced.’ Another added: ‘Big Brother and Endemol are protecting their precious Jade once again.’"
In an Indian national newspaper, The Hindu, claims have been made that many of Shilpa Shetty’s supporters felt disappointed at her retraction (when she said that "I don’t feel there was any racial discrimination happening from Jade’s end") and that Ms. Shetty’s decision to take the statement back was "attributed in some circles to gentle behind-the-scenes persuasion to pre-empt any possibility of her suing Channel 4 and Endemol on grounds of racial harassment". The Times, mostly touching on the same issues as most of the press added that this "debacle raises questions over why it took Channel 4 so long to question Goody about whether her remarks were racist, and whether viewing figures for the show have now peaked with her departure."
One thing is for certain. Jade’s departure is not the close of this row. It’s hard to imagine that Goody will be able to salvage her career from this with the feeling that Goody has outstayed her welcome in the nation’s heart. Most people have seen Goody as a waste of time, stealing a living from a reality show, but now, those that saw her as lucky and inoffensive have turned their opinions. With Danielle still in the house – the perpetrator of perhaps the most vile of comments ("f*ck off home"), this row will not die down. However, with the ‘ringleader’ now out of the picture, perhaps momentum will be lost? The debate has been opened and it will be interesting to see how the public respond in the coming weeks. [Mof Gimmers]
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Nearly all of the comments I’ve read this morning are behind Jade, because Shilpa was in her own way bullying Jade by needing to be in control of the Big Brother house. Big Brother would have known the outcome of putting these two together.
Who knows the voting may have been rigged so that Jade was evicted. And no crowd on her departure from the house … maybe they didn’t want the viewers to see Jade being cheered by the public because of the repercussions on their programme.
There is a much wider issue here – it’s about a class and education struggle; it’s about education versus the lack of education! The victim here is the one that for whatever social reasons was not able to benefit from the educational opportunities that are supposed to be on offer to us all here in Britain …the structure of our society lets so many of our ordinary citizens fall through the net and feel totally disadvantaged when it comes to expressing ourselves clearly in a social arena. Those who have the advantage of a good education and a secure grasp of language through a good education will be perceived to be winners … Jade should now use her greatest asset, her strong character and take on the mantle of champion for all of us who feel less than adequate in the face of all this class and ‘no class’hypocricy.
I think the idea that the voting has been rigged is totally ridiculous no-one in their right mind other than other bigots in this country could have voted any other way this has just shown the consequences of making totally uneducated and vile people celebrities Jade and her sidekicks make a mockery of britian, that ex miss britain or whoever she is who cannot even hold a knife and fork properly along with the birping trio!
Shilpa shetty is probably the only true celebrity in that place and is being ridiculed for portraying what really are qualities attributed to a true british person, and whats more laughable is another one of the three stooges saying she can’t even speak english properly which is funny as shilpa uses words that seem to confuse most of the inmates, It is a shame that we have people like this as role models and representatives of our society, i hope goody’s career is over along with the rest of the so-called council estate celebrities!
absolutely right Jade needs education so maybe rather than being put up on a pillar as a so called celebrity she should use some of her undeserved wealth to go back to school and maybe get some training in etiquet as well!
That’s rich coming from someone who can’t spell etiquette. The only people that have a right to feel offended are the minority group that Jade’s comments were seemingly directed towards. If you’re not part of that minority group, you shouldn’t stick up for what you consider the “underdog”. I am fed up with political correctness, and the overbearing media census on just about everything.
Excuse my shorthand just i dont really have time to use spellcheck like you so i do apologize for the occasional typo, and this has nothing to do with being pc and how you can say that shetty is an underdog is unreal she conducts herself with more class and decorum than anyone else there, moreover the media has done a great thing by bringing this to light and causing such a fuss otherwise our country might finally be mistaken for the type of country that tolerates the behaviour of miss goody and your other pals at the BNP
and uh media Census what do your mean by that are you referring to censorship??
Benny, I am right behind you!!
What I find funny is the FACT that Shilpa can speak English FAR BETTER than those who say she can’t speak it! And it isn’t even her mother tongue!! Just how ridiculous is that?! Jade and co. really ought to brush up on their language BEFORE making absurd comments about others who, according to Danielle, “can’t even speak English” – yeah, whatever love.
There’s one word Danielle seems to have stuck permanently on her (very short) list of vocabulary – f***in. She uses it ALL THE TIME. It’s probably the ONLY thing she can put in context, considering such foul language could be used pretty much ANYWHERE in a sentence. What in idiot!!
Big Brother only care about Jade’s welfare (and anyone she likes) – had the tables been turned, and Shilpa were the nasty piece of work that they are, I’m sure BB would’ve intervened! How dare ANYONE be rude to JADE GOODY?
Channel 4 portray double standards PERFECTLY.
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting!
Correction: an not in.
can i just say if whats been happening in the big brother house is racist then isnt little britians sketch with the indian lady racist too then? takin the piss out of the way she speaks, how comes this is allowed to be aired then and the public find it funny. Also with the recent terriorist attacks from people of other country’s iv heard several people say forieners shouldnt be allowed in our country as this would solve the problem of terrorism. I do not necessarily agree with this ! but my point is many people in britian make several different comments it does not mean they are racist although i dont think it is acceptable for these comments to be made to the persons face
I think Jades behaviour was as bad as it was made out but I also think she was really shocked and sorry for her actions. She has worked really hard over the last four years and earned what she has. Channel 4 is the real devil here.
Well done Daniel, at last someone not afraid to say what they feel about being pc rather than being forced to say what people think has to be said in order to be considered being pc. Just because somebody has an opinion that may differ to that of somebody else why should they feel unable to express their view without being branded as being discriminating, after all do we not live in a democracy!!!!!!!!?
I personally feel that this whole issue has been blown out of all proportion by the use of the word “racism” and that people are forgetting that in reality Jade only had and argument with another housemate!!!
I am not defending Jade for her behaviour or in the things that she said. But hey after having watched the argument on BB I can’t recall anywhere in the argument over “stock cubes” that Jade made a rascist comment to Shilpa but could I play devils advocate and ask what Shilpa meant by her comment “is this British society as it is today” which she uttered after having been reassured by Cleo that in her opinion Jade was not being rascist towards her? To which Shilpa replied that she thought Jade was being racist.
Does this mean that there is 1 rule for 1 and 1 for another? Do I now have the right to say that I personnally feel insulted by Shilpa’s comment and the suggestion behind it that Jade represents the attitude and beliefs of the “whole” of British society. Jade’s own opinion it is just that HER opinion. How dare Shilpa believe that this 1 opinion is shared by the whole of British society? Is this not a prime example of bigotry and narrow mindedness from Shilpa?
Finally, I should like to point out that in British society today there operates a 4 tier class system. In some ways this has similarities with the caste systems which operates within Shilpa’s society. Jade’s comments and demeanour stem from 1 individual brought up from within 1 class of British society. Would Shilpa therefore have reacted so strongly, verbally and condemmend the whole of her society if the comments had been made to her by someone from within her own caste system?
Surely this whole episode has been blown out of all proportion and has simply been brought about, not as a result of any negative racial motivation, but due to the combined pressures of confined space, boredom, individual personality clashes and the constant stresses and strains of being monitored 24/7 by TV cameras. Therefore nobody should have the right or feel the need to personally witch hunt or try to destroy or sully either the character or career of the 2 individuals involved in this incident.
For the record, I am of a mixed race heritage and I believe that the big issue in Big Brother is the bullying that Shilpa has had to endure.
I don’t think for one moment that Jade had racism in her heart when she opened her mouth. She has been targeted primarily by the media as a figure of “hate” but what of Danielle and Jo, they were complicit in the bullying and racist remarks.
It’s shameful that the other adults in the house didn’t try to defuse the situation. It’s all very well being supportive in the bedroom or in the diary room. But if you don’t stand up in the heat of an argument or when others are making vicious comments, then aren’t you just as guilty by lack of omission?
Jade, Jo, Danielle and Jack are young, immature people. But that does not negate the damage that has been caused by their bullying tactics. I only hope that when Jack, Jo and Danielle leave that they are held just as accountable for their actions, in fact shouldn’t they also be villified in the press and public eye?
Label it “racist bullying” and the greater focus, as so far seen will always be placed on the racism.
So really the media, government and public response is that we will not stand for racism but bullying is ok!
Why doesn’t jade crawl back into the hole that she originally came out of!!!
Jermaine Jackson refered to Jades mother as White Trash, that is racism. Nothing was said about it. Can you imagine the uproar if one of the housemates were to say black trash, or asian trash. This has become a country where you can not say the slightest thing without causing some offense.
I think you’ll find White Trash is a term used MOSTLY by WHITE people. And is VERY normal in America. Just saying…
i am also of mixed race heritage and though many have disputed that Jade’s behaviour was not racist but rather a clash of personalities, i strongly believe otherwise. Yes, it is common knowledge that Jade was brought up in a lower class environmet, without a sound education or family life, unlike Miss Shetty but surely, despite all this, racism has no excuses nor does bullying of any kind!
In regards to the previous point, posted by Lesley in which Shilpa had commented and may i add, after a horrid and much underserved rampage of abuse by jade, ‘is this British society as it is today’…well, can a reasonable man actually blame Shilpa for having asked this? Personally, the answer is no. Place yourself in Shilpa’s position at that time. It is always different when you see through someone else’s eyes.
Furthermore, though Jade had made it seem that she was not bullying Shilpa with any racist intentions, the underhanded connotations of racism in comments such as ‘Shilpa Poppa Dom’(by Jade) and let’s not forgot, the comments made by Jade’s entourage of sheep, of the likes of Jo and Danielle such as, ‘she wants to be white’, ‘F*** off home’ and the mimicking of her Indian accent, is inescapable. It seems that the rules of the playground still inhabit the undeveloped psyches of these so-called celebrities. Have they, in spite of their downright stupidity and ignorance, not realised that the world is a much vaster place that that which lies within their own little minds.
The fact of the matter is that Shilpa has been made to feel a victim,of both bullying and racism as a result of the insecurites of those in question. This should not be tolerated. But, the sad truth of our reality is that unless a miracle occurs, bullying, racism and other forms of discrimination, will still remain in the generations to come.
i am also of mixed race heritage and though many have disputed that Jade’s behaviour was not racist but rather a clash of personalities, i strongly believe otherwise. Yes, it is common knowledge that Jade was brought up in a lower class environmet, without a sound education or family life, unlike Miss Shetty but surely, despite all this, racism has no excuses nor does bullying of any kind!
In regards to the previous point, posted by Lesley in which Shilpa had commented and may i add, after a horrid and much underserved rampage of abuse by jade, ‘is this British society as it is today’…well, can a reasonable man actually blame Shilpa for having asked this? Personally, the answer is no. Place yourself in Shilpa’s position at that time. It is always different when you see through someone else’s eyes.
Furthermore, though Jade had made it seem that she was not bullying Shilpa with any racist intentions, the underhanded connotations of racism in comments such as ‘Shilpa Poppa Dom’(by Jade) and let’s not forgot, the comments made by Jade’s entourage of sheep, of the likes of Jo and Danielle such as, ‘she wants to be white’, ‘F*** off home’ and the mimicking of her Indian accent, is inescapable. It seems that the rules of the playground still inhabit the undeveloped psyches of these so-called celebrities. Have they, in spite of their downright stupidity and ignorance, not realised that the world is a much vaster place that that which lies within their own little minds.
The fact of the matter is that Shilpa has been made to feel a victim,of both bullying and racism as a result of the insecurites of those in question. This should not be tolerated. But, the sad truth of our reality is that unless a miracle occurs, bullying, racism and other forms of discrimination, will still remain in the generations to come.
As someone living in the United Kingdom from abroad, I notice that many Brits seem to enjoy criticizing and making fun of other nationalities for their behaviours, eating habits or education.
Watching big brother is a bit of an education – it seems that both Americans and Miss Shetty top the Brits in all of those categories.
Maybe people should stop pointing fingers and remember the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
I am totaly behind Jade. Why has no one said any thing about the Jackson guy calling Jade and her mum “White trash”? If that is not racism then I dont know what is! Also, no one said any thing about Shilpa taking the micky out of Jade and laughing at her about the way she said “whale”, however when Jade coppied Shilpa’s accent of course it was racist!! It seems to me that racism is totaly one sided.
As for bullying,calling Jade thick and uneducated is bullying in itself.
The whole situation has been blown out of proportion because of the word ‘racist’. At the end of the day they were just two house mates that didn’t get along.
Jade, Jo, and Danielle acted like bullies – regardless of whether or not they were racist. It doesn’t matter what your educational background is, the issue is not one of education or class, it’s about having or not having and following an instinctive moral and ethical code of behaviour. They ganged up on one person in order to make themselves feel better, maybe they were insecure ? People who argue that somehow Jade is a victim should consider how they would have reacted if they themselves had been the victim. No doubt Shilpa may be irritating, but that doesn’t justify cowardly bullying.
Ange – you are seriously deluded.
And as for the comment on Jade being, and I quote, “thick and uneducated” – well, is that not the reality?
Shilpa found the way JO (NOT JADE) said ‘whale’ – because of her accent. But Jade, Jo and Danielle (as Edwina Currie refers to them as “three witches with a capital B”) take the mick of Shilpa’s accent. I think you’ll find the latter is worse. Forget mimicking the accent being racist – what about some of the comments they’ve made about her?
These girls are just bullies – and anyone who justifies that is probably one themself!
Jade is not a rascist this is all to do with polotics
it was rigged on voting that is obvious to anyone with half a brain.
Please lets not forget goverment parties were in the east and there all good chaps who need to be seen doing the right thing even though it really is not.
I say support her two girls that saw things not the same thats all. There are more important things needing attention.
i cant understand channel four for the way they have ruined a person on live tv all for higher figures the people who are involved in this programe should be fired for the way they have acted i used to enjoy watching channel four but im afraid it is getting worse and this what you have done has lost me i shant watch the channel ever again you have lost it !!!!!! what did you think you could achieve by showing what was going on in that house car phone warehouse have pulled the plug i dont blame them i think it is very unfair what you have done you have ruined one persons life how far will tv go
This is responding to sam’s comment. It does not matter who mostly uses the term “White Trash” the fact is that offended me and as Jermaine Jackson isn’t white seemed like a racist comment.
And that’s a fair comment, of course.
I just wanted to make the point that it is very common in America to use the term, and seeing as he’s an American I doubt it was meant in a racist way because, for him, it would be the norm to hear and to use such language. I don’t think he meant any offence to anyone OTHER THAN the individual involved.