Johannesburg – Africa’s latest Big Brother season has again been
marred by a sexual assault that saw a contestant being expelled from Big
Brother Naija after he was seen inappropriately touching and feeling a
sleeping female contestant.
The latest incident in the
controversial show is once again raising concern about why M-Net and the
producers, Endemol Shine Africa, are not adequately protecting
participants, especially women, in the show despite several prior
promises to put better measures in place after previous sexual and
physical assaults against women.
In the latest incident, the
contestant Kenem was expelled after viewers saw how he assaulted a
sleeping T-Boss who had no idea what was happening to her.
Footage
placed on YouTube went viral until YouTube suddenly blocked it saying
it’s been removed because it's “violating YouTube’s policy on nudity or
sexual content”.
Kemen was removed from the camera house in
Linden, Johannesburg, where previous versions of Big Brother Africa and
Big Brother Mzansi were filmed and where the latest second season of Big Brother Naija is taking place.
Although
made for Nigeria, Big Brother Naija is broadcast 24 hours per day to
the whole continent on MultiChoice’s DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
Due
to Kemen’s expulsion – who has gone to ground since his removal and who
isn’t speaking to the media – none of the housemates will be up for
elimination in Big Brother Naija this coming Sunday in order to keep the
number of housemates in line with the production playout order for the
weeks that are left.
MultiChoice Africa and Endemol Shine Africa have twice been asked for a statement.
In
a response M-Net says “M-Net and the show producers Endemol Shine
Africa are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all
housemates in the Big Brother house at all times.
“We view the
actions of Kemen as inappropriate behaviour, and as such we considered
this in a very serious light and will continue to take necessary
disciplinary action against housemates who break the rules of conduct in
the Big Brother house."
In February 2014 the Big Brother Mzansi contestant Mbali Zulu was expelled after he physically assaulted and slapped Iris Miya.
After
the incident M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle said “our viewers understand that
these isolated incidents do not represent our brand” and that “the
safety of reality show contestants continues to be M-Net's paramount
concern, so all contestants are screened intensively and undergo
vigorous psychological, as well as medical assessments, with highly
qualified practitioners within these fields prior to their selection for
any reality show”.
In 2010 Endemol Shine and M-Net had to expel
Hannington Kuteesa after fighting with a female contestant in Big
Brother, and in 2013 contestant Nando was given the boot from the show.
During the second season of Big Brother Africa Ofunneka was sexually assaulted by contestant Richard.
After
the latest sexual assault, the previous Big Brother housemate Lexi Van
on social media said that “This upsets me! I know a lot of men like
this!”
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