Jelousy, Cultural Clash or Racism

Working in the media industry I follow most trends. Though I’m not an avid watcher of reality television I make sure I watch, see and listen to what’s happening. Curiously I did watch some of the second episode of Big Brother, I try to see a bit of the first shows of the major ones to know what’s happening. I saw the scene where the “housemates” voted who would move to the slum house and who would stay in the big house. The bollywood actress was left in the big house. I turned to LL and said it was racism in action and there would be trouble.

Sure enough, there’s trouble. If you haven’t had the displeasure of watching any Big Brother (and I don’t blame you if you haven’t), you can get an update here. But, in summary, here are some of the phrases thrown at the Bollywood actress. I leave it to you to decide if these are jellous remarks thrown at a cultured, proud and attractive woman from those who aren’t, a clash of working class British culture with middle class Indian culture, or outright racism.

• “They eat with their hands in India, don’t they – or is that China?”
• “I would still love to squeeze her neck until her eyes pop out.”
• “You don’t know where her hands have been.”
• “Indians are thin because they undercook their food and get sick all the time.”
• “They do that, whiten their skin.”
• “She’s a dog.”