[Benjamin]

Big Brother was reportedly 'slammed with more than 700 Ofcom complaints' after housemate Sarah sparked outrage with a 'racial joke', according to The Sun.

The spa accounts manager was quickly issued a formal warning during Thursday's instalment, with many furious viewers demanding she was axed from the show.

Sarah first made the comments in a previous shopping task, when she called housemate Hanah 'gloaty.'

During a task, she also chanted the phrase 'Stop the gloats!', a spin on former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's campaign to 'swiftly remove' anyone who entered the country illegally on small boats.

The spa accounts manager was called into The Diary Room after she appeared to put playful turn on the slogan Stop The Boats.



The comments came to light during Thursday's episode as a result of a shopping task, and later in the evening, Hanah, Khaled and Segun expressed their concerns about racial sensitivity surrounding them.

Confiding in Segun, Hanah first said: 'I don't know how I feel about that one. I don't like that.'

Later in the Diary Room, she went onto say: 'I don't think that's funny, if I'm being honest with you.

'I studied international politics; I graduated with 2:1, babes. I'm not stupid.'

Sarah was then called into the Diary Room by Big Brother, who told her: 'Sarah, Big Brother wants to talk to you about language you have been using in the house.'

'Hanah, Khaled, and Emma had been aware that you previously used the term ''gloaty'' about Hanah. This was referring to a conversation you had with Emma where you described Hanah as gloaty in a reference to Marcello becoming the Head of House.

'On a separate occasion prior to this, during the Vampires and Villagers task, together with Nathan, you chanted, ''Stop the gloats'', which you confirmed was a reference to the political phrase, ''Stop the boats''.'

'It had no racial connotations, I have no connotations about boats or immigration, or anything like that. It was just making funny of political slogans.'

Big Brother went onto explain the context of the chants saying: 'When Hanah questioned you about you calling her gloaty, you referred to the 'Stop the gloats' chant you had created with Nathan during the earlier task,' Big Brother told her.

'Your use of language around this political reference has had an impact on your fellow housemates.

'As you know, the Big Brother house is made up of people from all walks of life with different life experiences.'

Visibly confused, Sarah then replied: 'Sorry, I'm not disagreeing with you, there is lots of walks of life, but I did not mean that with anything towards immigration or racial intent.

'For me, it was just a funny wordplay.'

Asked if there was anything she would like to say, Sarah said: 'I'd like to say that if I've offended anybody by making that kind of joke, I am genuinely 100% remorseful.

'That is down to my own stupidity and selfishness, me making a joke with wordplay and being like, ''Haha! Good joke!'' and not thinking about how that would affect other people.'

'People's feelings are totally valid, and if they are offended by that, I am so sorry. I have no malice in my heart against anyone.'

Big Brother then went onto tell Sarah: 'Big Brother cannot permit language that is likely to be considered offensive by housemates or the viewing public.'

Saying she understood, Sarah responded: 'Yes, very, very much so.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV reps for a comment on the multiple Ofcom complaints.

On Thursday, viewers were quick to share their own fury on social media, with some calling for Sarah to be removed from the house for her comments.

Posts on X included: 'STOP THE WHATT??? Not Sarah baiting herself out to being a racist... she needs to get EVICTED immediately that ain't no joke;'

'I wasn't joking. Sarah crossed a line;'

'In the space of five minutes, Sarah has made an ignorant racial ''joke'' body-shamed a 20-year-old girl and has humiliated her in front of the entire group;'

'What did Sarah just say...? She needs to be next to go I'm so serious’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/artic...cist-joke.html