Big Brother has become the focus of viewer backlash after Ofcom received more than 7,000 complaints about the ITV reality show's episode broadcast on Monday 19 October, which showed uncomfortable scenes between housemates Omar El Mayer and Rhianna Collins.
The scenes centred on the two 21-year-olds, whose romance inside the house has been a big talking point for viewers and housemates alike.
In the episode, Rhianna suggested they had both been acting "weird" with each other, prompting Omar to say that her "feelings aren't facts", use a derogatory term about her to another housemate, and tell her not to cry or look away from him as the pair were speaking in the store room.
"I can't sleep on it, 'cos if I sleep on it, then I will just never talk to you again," he told her. "I promise you, I will never be OK with you. I am not a loser. You really got a rise out of me. Well done. You f**king earned it."
In its latest weekly report, broadcasting regulator Ofcom revealed that it had received 7,138 complaints about Monday's episode. Ofcom confirmed to Radio Times that the complaints related to Omar’s behaviour towards Rhianna.
It was the most-complained-about TV broadcast of the period between Tuesday 13 October and Monday 19 October, significantly up on the second most-complained-about moment – which was the previous episode of Big Brother, with 658 complaints.
A spokesperson for Ofcom said: "We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
During the episode, Rhianna became upset and was called to the Diary Room by Big Brother so producers could check on her wellbeing. Rhianna and Omar were later shown hugging and sharing a bed.
ITV responded to concerns from viewers in a statement following Monday's episode, saying housemates receive respect and inclusion training, and are monitored around the clock with access to a dedicated welfare team.
A spokesperson for Big Brother told "All housemates receive respect and inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the Big Brother senior team to prepare them for living in the house and to set out Big Brother's expectations for appropriate behaviour and language.
"Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and any instances of inappropriate behaviour are responded to appropriately. Welfare and safeguarding are prioritised throughout the production, with a dedicated welfare team available to support housemates before, during and after their time in the house."
Despite calls from some fans online for Omar to be removed from the Big Brother house, he remains a housemate at the time of writing, and is not up for the next eviction.
Describing the situation on last night's episode, Rhianna told Big Brother: "Oh my god, it's like a roller coaster that just never ends. That is genuinely how I can describe it.
"Sometimes I think he doesn't understand that some things he says just don't sit right with me. I don't know what to do. There's literally no more tears left for me to cry that I will just look angry now – that's probably going to be another issue.
"And then we ended up cuddling in bed – again, a roller coaster. You know what I mean? Doesn't seem like the thrill. It seems exhausting. It's so hard being a girl."
Big Brother continues tonight on ITV2 and ITVX.
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