Big Brother hit with over 500 Ofcom complaints following heated argument scenes

Big Brother has received hundreds of Ofcom complaints following heated exchanges between Johanne and Rochelle in the house. The housemates have repeatedly been at loggerheads since this season of the ITV show has begun, and Big Brother intervened and broke up an argument during Sunday's episode.

The argument occurred when Rochelle overheard parts of a conversation between Pauline and Johanne where they shared their experiences of microaggressions as Black people.

The Mirror has reported that following Sunday's episode, the reality TV show was hit with 493 complaints.

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The broadcast regulator also received 91 complaints following 21 September's episode, with most citing racial remarks and references to nationality by Johanne and Omar.

Digital Spy has reached out to Ofcom for clarification over the complaints.

In the row that aired on Sunday, Johanne referenced an argument that she and Rochelle previously had over cooking chicken.

Johanne said: "My situation with Rochelle felt like a microaggression because I feel like if anybody else was over there heating up their food, say Rhianna, would [Rochelle] have reacted like that?

"And that’s how you can really decipher a microaggression a lot of times – is just put anybody there that looks like that person, would their behaviour still be the same?"

Rochelle then relayed what she believed she had heard to Rhianna, Lynx, and Omar, claiming that Pauline and Johanne had suggested that she and Rhianna were 'microaggressive'.

Related: Big Brother sparks over 100 Ofcom complaints after huge row

Yasmin went to Johanne and Pauline to clarify what had been said, which sparked a fresh argument in the house between the duo and Rochelle.

As the row became increasingly heated, Big Brother intervened and called Johanne to the Diary Room.

It comes ahead of Friday night's eviction, in which both Joanne and Rochelle are nominated.

Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn