I was trying to avert from entering the 'racism' debate on Celebrity Big Brother, but having watched Jo of S Club 7 fame on GMTV briefly before leaving for work this morning, I feel inclined to wade in to the argument, so to speak!
I actually believe that Jade, Danielle and Jo were racist- whether they thought that what they were saying on the show was overtly racist or bitchy or anything else. I respect Shilpa Shetty and how she dealt with the bullying on a daily basis, because I am someone who has been a victim of bullying, and cannot imagine how Shilpa was feeling to be in the goldfish bowl that was Big Brother under such emotional strain.
Nevertheless, whereas Shilpa is even more of a star than when she first went in to the house, Jade and Co's careers have been ruined. It was embarrassing to watch Jo on TV this morning as she confessed to having received death threats, and that she is indeed fearful of returning home. The media has succeeded in ripping the lives of these people apart. Of course they should apologise, but when the media soundbites of today are long forgotten, their lives will be marred by this event forever. This should not be allowed. Big Brother should have stepped in from the outset, and edited content so as to sensitively convey the situation. They ignored a civic responsibility, and should be held to account.
If we truly want to be a tolerant and forgiving society, then those who were racist on Big Brother should learn from their mistakes without persecution from the media or society alike.
I actually believe that Jade, Danielle and Jo were racist- whether they thought that what they were saying on the show was overtly racist or bitchy or anything else. I respect Shilpa Shetty and how she dealt with the bullying on a daily basis, because I am someone who has been a victim of bullying, and cannot imagine how Shilpa was feeling to be in the goldfish bowl that was Big Brother under such emotional strain.
Nevertheless, whereas Shilpa is even more of a star than when she first went in to the house, Jade and Co's careers have been ruined. It was embarrassing to watch Jo on TV this morning as she confessed to having received death threats, and that she is indeed fearful of returning home. The media has succeeded in ripping the lives of these people apart. Of course they should apologise, but when the media soundbites of today are long forgotten, their lives will be marred by this event forever. This should not be allowed. Big Brother should have stepped in from the outset, and edited content so as to sensitively convey the situation. They ignored a civic responsibility, and should be held to account.
If we truly want to be a tolerant and forgiving society, then those who were racist on Big Brother should learn from their mistakes without persecution from the media or society alike.
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