[Sam:)]

From The Guardian

News

Big Brother sponsor refuses to rule out dropping £2m deal over abuse row
Schwarzkopf 'closely monitoring' Ofcom as it investigates 1,225 complaints over aggressive behaviour and racist language


Big Brother: Conor McIntyre was allegedly abusive to Miss India UK title holder Deana Uppal. Photograph: Channel 5
Schwarzkopf has refused to rule out dropping its £2m headline sponsorship of Big Brother, admitting that it is closely monitoring the outcome of Ofcom's investigation into more than 1,200 complaints about instances of abuse and racism on the Channel 5 reality TV show.

The media regulator is investigating three incidents, which have attracted a total of 1,225 complaints, including abusive behaviour, a black contestant being called "a gorilla" and housemates labelled as "*******".

The official sponsor of Big Brother, the celebrity edition that will air later this summer and spin-off show Bit on the Side is hair colour giant Schwarzkopf.

The brand – which has used presenter and former singer Louise Redknapp in its advertising, although she does not appear in the TV idents made to support the Big Brother sponsorship – signed a £2m tie-up with the Channel 5 franchise earlier this year.

A spokeswoman for the Richard Desmond-owned broadcaster was keen to point out that the brand has no control over what the housemates do or what it chooses to air.

"We are prevented by law from influencing editorial content or policy as this responsibility rests firmly with the makers of the show," she said.

She refused to be drawn when asked whether Schwarzkopf was definitely standing by its sponsorship, or is reconsidering its relationship with the show.

"We will continue to closely monitor the situation, but it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this stage of Ofcom's investigation," she said.

The media regulator is expected to take at least several weeks to decide whether the incidents were in breach of the UK broadcasting code.

Schwarzkopf's deal, struck by parent company Henkel, included product placement for sister brands such as Right Guard deodorant and Theramed toothpaste.

The main focus of the £2m deal is the Schwarzkopf brand – as well as TV idents stunts have included the housemates and presenter Emma Willis dying their hair the brand's distinctive red colour.

One senior media buying executive said that there is as yet no sign, to his knowledge, of TV advertisers pulling back their campaigns in light of the investigation.

"It is a case of innocent until proven guilty," he said. "There are no rumours of anyone set to pull a campaign. However even though there were only a few complaints about racism if that turned out to be upheld by Ofcom then I would expect there to be a definite advertiser reaction."

The incident that prompted the most complaints from viewers, 1,108, involved housemate Conor McIntyre being abusive to Miss India UK title holder Deana Uppal.

McIntyre was warned about his behaviour by Big Brother, in which he used a string of expletives and called her "a piece of ****". The incident occurred at 9.40pm on 25 June on Channel 5 show.

The second incident involved housemate Caroline Wharram calling Adam Kelly, a black contestant, a "ridiculous gorilla ... with no sanitation".

Ofcom received 114 complaints from viewers about the perceived racial slur which occurred on 28 June at 10.25pm.

On 4 July, a former Big Brother housemate, Victor Ebuwa, appeared on spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

Ebuwa referred to the housemates as "functioning *******", which prompted three complaints to Ofcom. The incident occurred at 11.20pm.

"Channel 5 is committed to complying with Ofcom's broadcasting code and will help to facilitate a speedy investigation into this particular episode of Big Brother and Big Brother's Bit on the Side," said a spokesman for the broadcaster.

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[Petershaw1984]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...sor?CMP=twt_fd

They are closely monitoring the conor situation

Its was only a matter of time


Wonder if this weeks eviction could be canceled and conor is ejected

[Petershaw1984]

Could this mean the end? And is it our faults for being pedantic and complaining about things we want to see?

[Kate!]

No. it's BB's fault for putting these scumbag types in the house in the first place, they have only themelves to blame.

[Jords]

It was weeks ago forget it!

[Josy]

The media regulator is expected to take at least several weeks to decide whether the incidents were in breach of the UK broadcasting code.

The eviction will probably still go ahead.

[Petershaw1984]

I agree kate they shouldnt have put him in but isnt drama like this what makes the show and gives it the edge over othrr tv shows?

[karezza]

This is why BB are trying to get rid of Conor? This is why they fixed this week's nominations.

[Petershaw1984]

Originally Posted by karezza

This is why BB are trying to get rid of Conor? This is why they fixed this week's nominations.

I agree

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by pio5ukuk

I agree kate they shouldnt have put him in but isnt drama like this what makes the show and gives it the edge over othrr tv shows?

No, it spoils it. If they can't find 16 or however many hms that are fun and entertaining from all the applicants without having to resort to the dregs of society then I despair.

[karezza]

BB should have put all the housemates up for eviction and made it a vote to evict.

[Petershaw1984]

The worrying thing is is that this could be the final curtain for regular bb and heaven forbid we get left with celeb bb 3 times a year

[Bluerang1]

Only 2million?

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by karezza

This is why BB are trying to get rid of Conor? This is why they fixed this week's nominations.

well if that was the intention, it's backfired horribly as no way will Conor leave over Shievonne (much to my disgust)

[Petershaw1984]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

No, it spoils it. If they can't find 16 or however many hms that are fun and entertaining from all the applicants without having to resort to the dregs of society then I despair.

Ok but diversity is the way isnt it? We dont have to like every housemate amd i certainly dont like conor but actions have made good ish tv compared to someone like luke s who is abhorrently boring

[Jords]

Looking back I dont think what he said warranted an ejection. I believe I was just pissed at how lightly he got off and the comments I saw laughing and joking about it.

Still an absolute twat and bully though, trying to act big and 'ard infront of his fwends.

Edit: Also because I want him out I didnt care if it was by ejection, if Im honest.

[Petershaw1984]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

No, it spoils it. If they can't find 16 or however many hms that are fun and entertaining from all the applicants without having to resort to the dregs of society then I despair.

Ok but diversity is the way isnt it? We dont have to like every housemate amd i certainly dont like conor but his actions have made good ish tv compared to someone like luke s who is abhorrently boring

[Josy]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

No, it spoils it. If they can't find 16 or however many hms that are fun and entertaining from all the applicants without having to resort to the dregs of society then I despair.

16 people being fun and entertaining constantly for 10 weeks isn't reality tv though tbf, reality tv should show things that happen on a day to day basis that includes the good and the bad imo.

Thats why I don't get why the people who complain so much to ofcom continue to watch these tv shows when they don't like the things that get shown.

[Petershaw1984]

Originally Posted by Josy

16 people being fun and entertaining constantly for 10 weeks isn't reality tv though tbf, reality tv should show things that happen on a day to day basis that includes the good and the bad imo.

Thats why I don't get why the people who complain so much to ofcom continue to watch these tv shows when they don't like the things that get shown.

This is true josy. We coukd have 16 becky and arrons and it woukd becone boring (bb12 would love it though) throw in a few live wires shev conor chris lydia etc and it becomes a different show

[Petershaw1984]

Originally Posted by Jords

Looking back I dont think what he said warranted an ejection. I believe I was just pissed at how lightly he got off and the comments I saw laughing and joking about it.

Still an absolute twat and bully though, trying to act big and 'ard infront of his fwends.

Edit: Also because I want him out I didnt care if it was by ejection, if Im honest.

5 years ago it would have him kicked out but the show has moved on now. Hsd we gad live feed he woukd havve been out

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Josy

16 people being fun and entertaining constantly for 10 weeks isn't reality tv though tbf, reality tv should show things that happen on a day to day basis that includes the good and the bad imo.

Thats why I don't get why the people who complain so much to ofcom continue to watch these tv shows when they don't like the things that get shown.

Again I agree with you, I can understand how people get angry as to BB series at incidents and at housemates,I do myself regularly.
However, I personally would never complain about it, about it even to Channel 5,never mind ofcom.

I do though accept that if someone feels really strongly as to an incident then to complain to Channel 5 or subsequently to ofcom is their right and it is what ofcom is there for anyway.

I personally love BB and see it as we are looking in windows as to the behaviour of the housemates, I in no way believe in the main that housemates would or do act the same in real life as they do in the house.

The public gets the chance to vote housemates out when the housemates decide who they would rather not live with in the house.There comes our chance to speak and often the voting public do very loudly.
Long may that be so.

[Cherie]

The bottom line here surely is that Conor was reprimanded and put on a warning. The comments he made though hugely offensive were not directed to the HM but to his cronies., and Deana remains in the house, I could understand people complaining if she had walked due to his behaviour. Caroline again directed her comment to one of her cronies so Adam is unsware of what has been said. The one I would pick out as being the worst offender here is Victor, at least the other two have the pressures of the house and cameras capturing their ever move as a sort of excuse, but Victor...really...*******...???Whilst I would uphold anyones right to complain, people seem to complain for the sake of complaining...apparently the nudies on the butter ad had to cover up as people complained about their bare bums. The problem is it is too easy to dash off a complaint via email, most of these people wouldnt bother if they had to pen a complaint and find a stamp to post it. If the show is axed because of lack of sponsorship, then we have the 1,000 or so people who have nothing better to do than watch a show and moan and complain about it. Maybe they should take time out to find where their off button is.

[jyunga]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

No, it spoils it. If they can't find 16 or however many hms that are fun and entertaining from all the applicants without having to resort to the dregs of society then I despair.

Oh lord, that's just pathetic. How are they supposed to know when they are casting that someones going to make a comment like Conor did? He's made ONE comment that people have made a huge deal over and you're acting like he was walking into the audition process telling the producers he'd shove epilaters up their arse if they don't let him in the house.

Pathetic.

[Braden]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

No. it's BB's fault for putting these scumbag types in the house in the first place, they have only themelves to blame.

I don't see how you can blame BB for this matter. The housemates are told beforehand what behaviour is deemed unacceptable, and if the individuals can't follow those rules then it's entirely their fault imo.