There isn't enough room to get into this Jade - Big Brother - racism debate in full. I've already had a heated pub conversation about it with my ex-boss who thinks Ms Goody is a blatant racist and should be shot.
I'm more interested in the mechanism of Big Brother and how Jade went in with a really positive media image - initially the other celebrity housemates weren't too keen on her but were won around (e.g. Jo from S Club 7 really didn't like her much but ended up her bosom buddy). So went wrong for Jade?
a) She was insecure about being on CELEBRITY Big Brother....ok, she is a celebrity and the 25th most influential person in the world (apparently) but she is still all too aware of how she gained her fame and Shilpa Shetty's star quality clearly became a threat to her.
b) When Jade's mother (the interestingly named Jackiey) left the house, Jade's role changed from being the mother to her mother back to being a 25 year old girl again...leader of the pack mentality with the 2 other girls.
c) Jade took it all too seriously sometimes...I guess in a situation like that, things of little importance become big issues. Look at George Galloway last year going on about his right to vote being taken away. When he was evicted from the house, he realised how pompous he sounded and how inconsequential it all was. So chicken and chicken stock aren't all that important in the great scheme of things, is the message.
But I have to say these things about the whole debate:
1. I don't believe that Jade is a racist. Like everyone (and we are ALL included) she has some underlying preconceptions and stereotypes about people...but she didn't like Shilpa for a variety of reasons (celebrity, class, women being bitchy to each other, insecurities). I don't think race was one of these reasons.
2. The newspapers have once again gone to town on this...it has been blown out of all proportion.
3. I'm suss about Endemol's role...it's been suggested they tipped Jade off about the controversy but going just by the diary room exchanges, they strongly hinted to her the whole situation. Maybe they had no other choice but to tip her off, but it devalues the whole concept of reality TV.
4. It has got people talking about racism and bullying which is a good thing...just let's not make Jade the scape goat for it all...there were two other people involved in the bullying.
5. And it was bullying of another person, no doubt about it.
6. Jade's career will be ok in the long-term, she's a fascinating character to the media and the public and if she can weather the storm in the short-term, she'll turn the situation around.
8. This is the beginning of the deathknell for Big Brother, I think, the series would have been so much better with the original 11 housemates...Donny Tourette, Ken Russell, Leo Sayer...all great characters, there was enough material there for a great series and bringing the Goodys in changed the dynamic way too much. Don't tamper with a great concept unless it's a well thought out idea e.g. Jackie Stallone entering in 2005, Chantelle as a celebrity imposter in 06.
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