British bully of Bollywood queen battered by backlash

[celeb_2006]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070120...n_070120194804

A minor celebrity's future seemed in tatters after viewers evicted her from a reality television show for her "racist bullying" of a top Bollywood star which sparked international fury.
Viewers voted to kick out Jade Goody, who had taunted Indian actress Shilpa Shetty in the "Celebrity Big Brother" programme, where famous faces live shut off from the world under 24-hour television scrutiny.
Friday's eviction left Goody, 25, a former "Big Brother" contestant, facing the consequences of her actions and press villification for her treatment of film star Shetty.
With the atmosphere highly charged, television executives banned the crowds which usually gather outside the "Big Brother" house on the northern edge of London, following every eviction.
Goody received a massive 82 percent of the total public votes cast in a straight two-way choice that had been between her and Shetty, 31, but Channel 4 television declined to disclose how many people voted.
"In all honesty I'm disgusted with myself," said Goody, after emerging from the household to silence and learning about the full scale of the row she had caused.
British newspapers roundly savaged Goody for her antics in the house.
The Sun, Britain's biggest-selling daily and once a champion of Goody, said "incredible as it may seem, last night's vote was the most important in Britain since the last general election.
"It became a referendum on whether our nation, with the eyes of the world on us, was prepared to back a home-grown yob over a dignified Indian actress."
The programme makers were also mauled for not letting Goody face the full force of public anger.
Newspapers said Goody had been tipped off about the storm beyond the garden fence and been well-briefed on how to go about salvaging her public image.
"I look like a complete and utter nasty small person -- the sort of person I don't like myself," she said in the post-eviction interview on Channel Four television after viewing footage.
"I am not a racist and I sincerely, with my hand on my heart, apologise to anyone I have offended out there," she said.
Shetty's family hailed the eviction of the Bollywood star's chief tormentor as a triumph of "good over evil."
"This vote has shown that goodness always prevails, like in Bollywood films," a spokesman for Shetty and her family said.
"This vote was not about just one contestant facing eviction. It was a straightforward contest between Shilpa and Jade, between good and bad," Dale Bhagwagar told AFP.
In a subsequent statement, Shetty's mother hailed the vote.

"She (Goody) deserved to be evicted. She behaved in such a despicable manner," Shilpa's mother Sunanda Shetty told the private Times Now network.
The man tipped to be Britain's next prime minister, finance minister Gordon Brown, was again drawn into the row during a visit to a film studio in Mumbai on the final day of his Indian tour, urging viewers to vote for "tolerance."
Along with former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd and one-time pop star Jo O'Meara, Goody has reduced Shetty to tears on numerous occasions.
Shetty has been called a "dog" and asked whether she lives in a shack, prompting protestors in India to burn effigies of the show's producers.
Mobile phone company Carphone Warehouse on Thursday suspended its multi-million-pound sponsorship of the show.
Lloyd's sponsorship deal with an insurance firm has been ditched, while retailer the Perfume Shop has stopped stocking Goody's fragrance.
Around 40,000 people have complained to media watchdog Ofcom and police have launched an investigation into allegations of racism.
There have been some attempts at reconciliation. Shetty has withdrawn her claim of racism, while Goody and Lloyd have apologised for their remarks.
Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has disputed whether comments were racist, instead saying it was "unquestionably a good thing that the programme has raised these issues and provoked such a debate."
Viewing figures Friday peaked at 8.8 million people and averaged 7.8 million -- marginally better than Channel Four's top figures for 2006.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman said the profits on the telephone calls -- or 10 pence (19 cents) on each 50-pence call (98 cents) -- it received for Friday's eviction vote will be given to a charity. The amount will be revealed after the series ends on January 28.

[pacific breeze]

Ah, you know, it's all staged for the camera. Ratings rule.

[ediebrooks]

It was pretty nauseating, all the same, to see these hellacious harpies terrorizing this pretty, soft-spoken, young woman. It reminded me of times when I was bullied in my younger days.

[SVZ]

It was pretty nauseating, all the same, to see these hellacious harpies terrorizing this pretty, soft-spoken, young woman. It reminded me of times when I was bullied in my younger days

I'm glad that bitch got what she deserved though!!!

They were so rude..."She eats with her hands!!!"

[ediebrooks]

I think it was purely jealousy and ignorance on that Jade Goody's part. She probably can't understand anyone who has a little class and doesn't use the word "fuck" in every sentence.

[princesspink]

Im glad Britain voted against racism..but would they have voted in the same numbers had the media not made an issue out of it?

[Elisa]

"I am not a racist and I sincerely, with my hand on my heart, apologise to anyone I have offended out there," she said.

Oh please! How can she deny being a racist. As for her apology afterwards, it was as insincere as she is. She was reading from a teleprompter apparently. She's desparately trying to save her ass now that she's out.

The best thing to come out of this is that those involved no longer have a future in the industry and we'll get to see how brave they are when they have to face the public backlash that BB so *kindly* protected them from briefly after the show. I wasn't impressed that the actress forgave them and withdrew her claims of racism.

It scares the hell out of me the kind of society we live in when this is tolerated...especially for ratings. Are people truly 'entertained' by this? And we wonder why the world has no moral compass.

[tiggle]

Jade Goody is a big bully, loud-mouthed and foul. She was put in the house to do what she does best: scream and fight. But the real racist was that Danielle girl imo. What a piece of trash. She made some jaw-dropping, racistcomments behind Shilpa's back and acted like she was her best friend to her face.

[Dean James]

This British folk will have to let us know if Jade stays famous, still sells her perfume and exercise video.

[pinklilycat]

Jade is a ignorant idiot. I don't think she's racist just a despicable bully who has no moral compass. I really hope her behavior affects her finances - it's the only punishment she'll understand.

[sharon_b]

Haaa these bitches deserve every bit of backclash they get. Jade Goodys 'career' is in tatters. Dannielle Lloyd has had her modelling contract terminated and shes been dumped by her mega rich footballer boyfriend Teddy Sherringham. An Jo O Mera's singing comeback is never gonna get off the ground. This time next year they will probably be working at a checkout at TESCO. Karma Bitches!!!

[Dean James]

What's a TESCO?

[sharon_b]

What's a TESCO?

A british supermarket

[Dean James]

Ah, thanks!

[pinklilycat]

been dumped by her mega rich footballer boyfriend Teddy Sherringham

I didn't know that Teddy had dumped Danielle. Was it in the papers then? I'm dumbfounded that when asked who Winston Churchill was she replied " America's first black President". Surely you should be locked up for that astounding level of stupidity??!