Ofcom received more than 270 complaints from viewers claiming that Big Brother exploited vulnerable contestants and encouraged bullying in its most recent series.
It was criticised by mental health charities after Shahbaz Chaudhry threatened to kill himself on air, sparking claims that the makers had exploited the self proclaimed “Paki Poof’s” volatile mental state. Some viewers also said the show used winner Pete Bennett’s Tourette’s condition as a form of entertainment.
But Ofcom rejected the complaints, saying “adults make informed decisions about their participation in such programmes” and it was not for the watchdog to over-ride those decisions.
It also defended Petes being placed in the house, saying: “There is rightly no reason why someone with a disability cannot and should not exercise the same degree of informed choice as any other adult - including choosing to enter the Big Brother house.”
I am sure that Dawn Blake will have something to say about this!
5 Comments »
i think big brother this year was well sik i jus cant beleive nikki and pete av split up it is a sham i think they was only doing it for publicity glyn should av won
BB was pretty sick and not very moral. But Ofcom’s rules are clear and thats the loophole the producers use when casting for housemates.
IF you are an adult, you are over 18 and you give consent, you can take part in any activity you wish to on TV (it doesnt matter if you are completely psychotic or suicidal).
Shabbaz who is 37 has been so infirm mentally he has never been capable of paid work as an adult and dresses up as wonder woman, but he can go on BB and that’s is his human right.
So although he may not be fit for work because he cannot mentally take it, he is fit for a reality TV programme !
So you can have
downs syndrome,
autism,
manic depression
schizophrenia ,
suicidal etc.
And you can take part in any tv programme as long as you are over 18 year old and there’s nothing in broadcast law that stops you, doing so.
If others wish to take the mickey out of you or bully you, or you wish to say you want to commit suicide thats your right also ( as long as they dont broadcast the method of suicide or the suicide occuring).
It may appear at first Big Brother have not exploited mentally ill housemates, but OFCOM rules state :
“Its not possible to exploit ANY ADULT as Long as They are OVER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE EXPLOITED “.
So if you know anyone with learning difficulties or mental health problems dont let them go near programmes such as Big Brother as the producers have a free reign over them.
I have spoken to the mental health charities who complained to OFCOM and share their concern.
It looks like this practice of using mental fragile or people with mental disabilities will continue until there is a fatality. Then the rules will be quickly changed.
Dawn Blake
What have ordinary people learnt about manic depression fron Shabbaz’s inclusion in the programme.Nothing at all.
what do we know about tourettes, what do we know about OCD,dysmorphia, or being sectioned as Nikki has been.
Absolutely nothing, now thats the real shame.
I cant really blame OFCOM, because they cannot override a TV producers decision, they dont have that power.
I suppose when the rules were being set up by OFCOM, they didnt expect those with mental illnes and mental disabilities would be used as entertainment by TV producers, but they do know.
So they should think about changing their rules.
BB this year was a bit too much like a rich person’s “happy slapping” video.
Dont know how the law can prosecute 14 year olds for harrasing mentally ill people and filming it on their mobiles, when this is on the TV.
The BB contract also states you cannot complain about your treatment, which makes the programme even more immoral.
After talking to various mental health professionals,we are dissapointed that OFCOM rules are currently this :
“it is impossible for a TV producer to exploit an adult once they are over 18 and they give their consent”.
No matter what mental state the indidvidual is in, whether they are off their medication, mentally ill, psychotic or mentally disabled. Once an individual is over 18yrs old, they cannot be exploited, so anything goes.
Well at least children are protected until they hit 18 years old.As I said someone will have to die before they revise this rule.
Post a Comment