New Delhi: The allegations of racist slur against Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty in the UK reality TV show Big Brother have set in motion a series of protests in London.
A number of NRIs and India-born citizens have registered their strong disapproval with UK’s independent media regulator Ofcom.
Leading the brigade of protestors is NRI television actress Meera Syal – of The Kumars At No 42 fame – who has raised a strong voice against the racist attack
Forty-five-year-old Syal is an author, playwright, actress and comedian, was made an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1997, largely due to her efforts in supporting the rights
of Asian women.
"There is a very thin line between what is entertainment and a vile spectacle and I think we are in that area now," Syal was quoted by PTI as saying in London.
Channel 4 has also received nearly 2,000 complaints.
"What this treatment of Shilpa has done is remind a lot of Asian people in Britain of the type of uncomfortable treatment they've received themselves over the years," Syal said while observing that the “bullying” will adversely impact “impressionable” audience of the show.
Syal also didn’t mince words to blame the broadcaster. “Channel 4 has been obviously rubbing their hands at the audience figures because everybody is talking about it now," she said, adding she had great respect for Shilpa for conducting herself with dignity on the show.
The issue is also threatening to snowball into a big political issue as UK’s Labour MP Keith Vaz also tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons on the issue on Tuesday.
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Ofcom as so far received nearly 8,000 complaints from viewers who had complained that Shilpa was being bullied by fellow contestants including Jade Goody - a previous contestant on the non-celebrity version of the show.
The nightmare for Shilpa and shock treatment for the audience began when the actor was mocked for bleaching her facial hair by her housemates - 25-year-old Goody, 23-year-old disgraced Miss England Danielle Lloyd, former S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara.
Lloyd reportedly remarked, "She wants to be white." The trio had earlier mocked her "spicy" cooking and there were Internet reports - denied by channel 4 bosses - that Jade's boyfriend Jack Tweedy called the actress a "Paki" during a late-night conversation that was bleeped out.
In a show of support from fans, Shilpa has risen to second favourite to win the Celebrity Big Brother title, just behind comedy actress Cleo Rocos.
"So far today, every penny has been put on Shilpa," a spokesman for William Hill, the leading betting house was quoted as saying.
Shilpa's mother had heard about the situation from friends in Britain and was "upset."
Actress Narinder Kaur, who is writing a book about her experiences on the show, said: "Millions of youngsters watch Big Brother and Endemol should set an example - they shouldn't tolerating the way Shilpa is being treated,” Kaur was quoted as saying.
"I wasn't surprised when people failed to pronounce Shilpa's name. When I was in the house six years ago they couldn't say my name and just shortened it to Naz. But I am shocked at the level of ignorance that these girls have shown," she said, adding, "To mock someone's culture for being different from yours is racist, and it is disgusting to watch."
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