Big Brother fans are demanding that ITV remove Omar from the house following a heated argument with co-star Rihanna, which viewers have described as 'abusive and toxic'. The clash, which aired on Monday night, has sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Omar, a jewellery seller, has been on-and-off dating Rihanna during his time in the house. However, their relationship has been marked by frequent disagreements, culminating in the latest confrontation.
Argument escalates
During the argument, Rihanna admitted she did not like the way Omar spoke to her, prompting him to tell her to 'f**k off'. She then decided to end their relationship, saying: 'I want to be okay with you. But this is not going anywhere. Maybe it was just, this whole thing was just a bad idea. Because I just don't think it's going anywhere.'
Omar responded menacingly: 'You've really f***ed me off by saying what you said.' When Rihanna replied, 'I don't want to do this tonight,' he shouted: 'You don't want to do it tonight but I can't sleep on it. I am not a loser!'
Fans call for removal
The incident has led to calls for Omar's removal from the show. One X user, Criostoir, wrote: 'Omar needs a warning for his emotionally abusive behaviour. That is NOT okay,' listing his red-flag phrases. Another user, Sunny, said: 'If Big Brother doesn't remove Omar from the house, I'm not watching anymore his behaviour is disgusting; imagine what ITV has not shown if this is what is put on TV.'
Other viewers, including influencer and radio presenter Dean McCullough, have echoed these sentiments. McCullough said Omar 'needs to be removed from the Big Brother house', adding: 'Those scenes that we had to watch tonight and the behaviour that Rihanna had to endure is completely unacceptable.'
Rihanna's distress
Rihanna later confided in fellow housemate Yasmin about her confusion over Omar's treatment. She said: 'I don't know what's wrong with Omar, but it's literally making me feel like I've constantly been doing something wrong. If he's just in a mood or something, fine. But like it's just making me feel like I'm going crazy.'
Despite the backlash, Omar remains in the house, with a new episode set to air as usual. The controversy adds to a season already marred by scandal, including criticism of contestant Rochelle for her interactions with Black co-stars Lynx and Johanne, and accusations of 'hideous transphobia' against other housemates. Metro has reached out to ITV for comment.
