Big Brother Contestant Omar Accused of Gaslighting Producers Amid Record Complaints

Big Brother contestant Omar is facing accusations of 'gaslighting producers' following a reprimand for his alleged controlling behavior towards his girlfriend, Rhianna. The series has become ITV's most complained-about in history, with over 7,000 Ofcom complaints lodged concerning problematic scenes.

Women's Aid has also called for Omar's removal from the house due to concerning interactions between him and Rhianna. Omar's behavior has included scolding Rhianna for discussing their issues with other housemates and using phrases such as 'don't talk about me,' 'don't cry,' 'don't look away from me,' 'sort yourself out,' and 'fix up.'

During a diary room session, Big Brother addressed Omar's language and behavior, stating, 'At times, it appears that you are dismissing your fellow housemates' feelings and experiences, and not acknowledging the impact such behaviour could have.' The producers noted that some of his language and actions could cause offense. Omar responded by asserting he has 'only ever looked out for and cared for Rhianna' and has never dismissed housemates' feelings, claiming his conversations with Rhianna were solely about looking out for her.

Viewers expressed discomfort with the episode, with many feeling Omar was attempting to exert coercive control over Big Brother producers. They pointed out that Omar immediately questioned Rhianna about whether she felt controlled by him, a conversation not aired during the diary room segment. Social media reactions indicated a belief that Big Brother had communicated more with Omar than was shown, and that the word 'controlled' likely originated from the producers.

Following the diary room conversation, Omar sought out Rhianna to discuss the accusations. He asked her if he had ever controlled or limited her. Rhianna responded that the word 'controlled' was 'crazy' and that she did not feel controlled by him, asserting her independence. Omar then explained his upset regarding her conversations with other housemates, framing it as a concern about how he would be perceived.

Rhianna stated she began to feel like she had done something wrong and was overthinking everything. Omar apologized if he had caused her to feel upset, and Rhianna expressed a desire to avoid arguments and bickering, saying she would communicate directly if she disliked something he did.

Omar and Rhianna, who have known each other for six weeks after meeting in the house, quickly declared their love for one another. However, Omar's behavior has drawn significant public criticism, making the situation one of the most complained-about reality TV moments. Calls for ITV to intervene and remove Omar from the show have mounted, with Women's Aid issuing a statement deeming his behavior 'worrying.'

The 7,138 Ofcom complaints received in a single day place this incident among the top ten most complained-about moments in reality TV history, and the third highest for a single incident in Big Brother history, following the Jade Goody racism row and Roxanne Pallett's 'punchgate.'

Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women's Aid, commented that coercive and controlling behaviors often precede escalation into other forms of abuse. She expressed concern about such behavior being platformed on popular media, risking the minimization of survivors' experiences and the entertainment of abuse. Oakeshott urged television companies like ITV to engage with experts to better protect contestants and welcomed a discussion with the Big Brother team.

A spokesperson for Big Brother stated that all housemates receive Respect and Inclusion training and briefings outlining expected behavior. The spokesperson added that housemates are monitored 24 hours a day, and inappropriate behavior is addressed appropriately, with welfare and safeguarding prioritized throughout production.