Luisa Zissman Criticizes Big Brother Over Duty of Care Amidst 7,000 Complaints

Luisa Zissman has accused Big Brother bosses of prioritizing ratings over the well-being of its housemates, following an incident involving contestant Omar that generated over 7,000 complaints. Omar has faced scrutiny in recent weeks for alleged "controlling and coercive behaviour" towards his girlfriend Rhianna within the house, leading to reprimands from show producers.

Zissman, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, suggested that ITV, the current broadcaster of Big Brother, is "sailing close to the line" by airing such disputes. She expressed concern that the on-screen conflict could lead to a difficult situation for the couple upon their exit from the house and facing public reaction.

Speaking on her podcast, Zissman stated that despite the implementation of robust duty of care measures by ITV when they revived the format, issues like the one involving Omar and Rhianna persist. "We are still seeing issues like this, it's on telly now, we are still seeing issues despite all this duty of care b*****ks," she said. Zissman argued that entertainment shows like Big Brother are driven by viewership and the revenue it generates, suggesting a potential conflict between this commercial imperative and the responsibility for contestant welfare.

"These are entertainment shows. They are there for views and views create money. And that is the crux of it. The show is there for entertainment and money," Zissman commented. She further elaborated on the delicate balance, questioning how far the show would push boundaries between entertainment and duty of care, and the potential consequences for the participants.

"And then in a year's time or two years time, or maybe even quicker than that, when she comes out, she will then be flipping this on them and being like you didn't protect me and you didn't have a duty of care, or we will see her absolutely crushed and devastated and then we're looking at a potentially really awful situation where she actually cannot cope with the public exposure that will come from this," Zissman added, highlighting the potential impact on Rhianna.

Omar was previously reprimanded by Big Brother after an episode detailing a dispute between him and Rhianna resulted in more than 7,000 complaints to Ofcom. During a visit from loved ones, Omar was advised by a friend to be mindful of how his actions could be perceived externally, and he and Rhianna agreed to pause their relationship. The charity Women's Aid also called for Omar's removal from the house following scenes deemed concerning.

Specific instances of Omar's behaviour cited include 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." In the Diary Room, Big Brother addressed Omar, stating that his language and behaviour appeared to dismiss housemates' feelings and failed to acknowledge the potential impact on them and the viewing public.

Omar responded by asserting that he had never dismissed housemates' feelings and that his interactions with Rhianna were aimed at looking out for her. He maintained he had no malicious intentions. Big Brother concluded by reminding him to always be mindful of the impact of his language and behaviour.

Viewers expressed discomfort with the episode, with some likening Omar's actions to attempts at coercive control. The number of Ofcom complaints made Omar's treatment of Rhianna one of the most complained-about moments in Big Brother history, ranking third for a single incident. This places it behind controversies involving Jade Goody and Roxanne Pallett.