Big Brother’s Omar prompts over 7,000 Ofcom complaints as Women’s Aid issues statement

Monday’s episode of Big Brother attracted more than 7,000 complaints to Ofcom regarding Omar and Rhianna’s relationship.

Viewers of the ITV social experiment series were outraged over the episode which showed tense scenes between the two housemates, who recently broke up in the house.

In the episode, Rhianna, 21, suggested things had become ‘weird’ between them, prompting Omar, also 21, to say that her ‘feelings aren’t facts’ and later approached her in the bedroom and warned her against talking about him to other housemates.

Fans called for Big Brother producers to step in. They pointed to a moment Omar told Rhianna to 'sort yourself out' and whispered to Rhianna 'don’t talk about me to other people' in front of other housemates.

At one point, Rhianna was called into the diary room and was asked: "Big Brother just wanted to check that you're okay?"

She replied: "Sometimes I just don't like the way he speaks to me."

One viewer urged others to make complaints to Ofcom.

"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---ing earned it."

In its weekly report, the broadcasting regular revealed that it received 7.138 complaints regarding Omar’s behaviour during Monday’s episode.

A spokesperson for Ofcom said it is ‘assessing the complaints against our rules’ but they have ‘yet to decide’ whether to investigate further.

Scenes broadcast in Monday's episode sparked outrage (ITV)

ITV told Tyla that Big Brother contestants 'are monitored 24 hours a day and any instances of inappropriate behaviour are responded to appropriately'.

Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, has raised concerns about the portrayal of relationships like this on Big Brother, warning that it risks minimising survivors’ experiences.

Oakeshott explained that abuse often begins with warning signs before escalating into other forms of harm.

“The nature of abuse means that it often begins with ‘red flag’ coercive and controlling behaviours like isolating you from friends or repeatedly putting you down, before escalating into other forms of abuse,” she said in a statement shared with Tyla.

She added that coercive control can have a significant impact on survivors’ lives, stating: “Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that impacts every element of a survivor's life.”

Oakeshott also expressed concern about the behaviours being given a platform on Big Brother, revealing that Women’s Aid had received messages from concerned viewers.

Viewers called for others to complain to Ofcom (ITV)

A Big Brother spokesperson issued a statement to Tyla which said: “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."

Contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.