SomeBig Brotherfans have slammed houseguests on the 21st season of the hit CBS reality show for alleged racist remarks and behavior.
And on Thursday, CBS and the producers released a joint statement to PEOPLE addressing the backlash.
Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty
The show, which is best known for its plethora of twists and the tagline “expect the unexpected,” took heat from viewers on Twitter after three contestants of color were eliminated last week.
After David Alexander, Ovi Kabir, and Kemi Fakunle were evicted, fans called out the show for what they perceived as “racism” from the other contestants.
“CBS you have some explaining to do, this is terrible,” wrote one Twitter user.
Added another user, “The first 3 people voted out of Big Brother were people of color. This says so much about the show and society in general. The way some houseguests have acted towards these three has been vile. Let’s call it what it is, racism. #BB21.”
Several Twitter users specifically called out contestant Jack Matthews for his behavior toward Fakunle, 25. The two feuded throughout the season, and many fans felt that Matthews’ treatment of her was based on racial reasons. (The houseguests are cut off from the outside world while filming, so they can not be reached for comment.)
One unhappy fan evenstarted a petitionon Change.org to get Matthews, 28, expelled from the house. As of Wednesday evening, the petition has over 7,700 signatures, with a goal of 10,000 total.
On Twitter, other fans criticized the show for not airing the alleged racism and bullying. (People who subscribe to theBig Brotherlive feeds are able to see what’s happening in the house, 24/7, but CBS edits the footage down for time.)
Big Brother21.Monty Brinton/CBS
In their exit interviews withEntertainment Weeklylast week, contestants Alexander, Kabir and Fakunle were all asked if they believed they were evicted due to the color of their skin.
“Based on my awareness and reading people and seeing how Kemi and Ovi worked the social game, and based on me being banished and just losing the first comp, which felt like the lucky comp, I don’t think it was racial,” Alexander said. “I think the cards fell the way that they fell.”
Ovi Kabir and David Alexander.Sonja Flemming/CBS
Said Kabir of his experience in the house, “Bullying is such a strong word and it’s so hard to say ‘cause I was in that house and I don’t know the other conversations going on. But I’ve experienced isolation and things like that my whole life, and it made me uncomfortable.”
Fakunle said she didn’t feel included in the house.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” shetoldEW. “There was definitely an in-group vs. out-group feeling in the house and I mean, I really don’t know. I don’t want to say something without being certain about it, but we definitely felt a presence in the house that we weren’t a part of.”
Big Brotherairs Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on CBS.
source: people.com
