A petition calling for Big Brother housemate Omar to be removed from the house has attracted thousands of signatures, following a warning issued to him by the show's producers.
The campaign on change.org comes after scenes aired earlier this week showing Omar and fellow housemate Rihanna as their relationship hit a difficult patch. Rihanna claimed Omar was 'acting weird' while they both discussed their situation with other housemates, with Omar seen at one point instructing her to stop talking about him.
They later had a discussion in the store room which resulted in Rihanna being called to the Diary Room, as Big Brother asked if she was OK. The incident, which even Big Brother The Group Chat hosts Kate Lawler and GK Barry described as 'difficult to watch', sparked more than 7,000 complaints to Ofcom.
Petition urges ITV to act
The petition's description began: "As a dedicated viewer of Big Brother, I feel deeply concerned about the manipulative and controlling behaviour exhibited by Omar towards Rhianna. Watching the show, it is clear that Rhianna is caught in an increasingly dangerous situation that could jeopardise her well-being. It is imperative that ITV, as the responsible broadcaster, steps in to protect her now."
It continued: "By ousting Omar from the Big Brother house, ITV can send a powerful message that such toxic behaviour has no place on reality TV. This will not only protect Rhianna but also uphold the integrity of the show. Ensuring a safe environment for all participants should be a priority."
It then urged other fans: "Please sign this petition to urge ITV to take immediate action and remove Omar from the house. Let's stand together to show that controlling and manipulative behaviour should not be normalised on our screens"
Omar issued a warning
In last night's episode (October 21), Omar was called to the Diary Room and issued a warning. Beforehand, he asked: "Do you think I'm toxic Big Brother? What if I'm the problem? But I'm not the problem, I promise. I know I'm not perfect."
Much later in the same episode, he was told by Big Brother: "At times it feels you are dismissive about your housemates' experiences." They added that Omar's language used "on more than one occasion could cause offence to housemates or the fellow public."
Omar appeared to hit back as he replied: "I fully understand... I've never dismissed housemates feelings in all honesty." He later said that he didn't dismiss feelings but rather tell them the truth. He added: "Let's be honest here we're not talking about housemates, we're talking about me and Rhianna."
Big Brother responds
He then continued to say he had done "nothing but look out for her and care for her" before going on to say: "Like I said, I've acknowledged my housemates feelings." Big Brother replied: "You must always be mindful of the impact your language and behaviour can have on others."
Following increased scrutiny over Omar's behaviour, a Big Brother spokesperson said: "All Housemates receive Respect and Inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the Big Brother Senior team to prepare them for living in the House and to set out Big Brother’s expectations for appropriate behaviour and language."
"Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and any instances of inappropriate behaviour are responded to appropriately. Welfare and safeguarding are prioritised throughout the production, with a dedicated welfare team available to support Housemates before, during and after their time in the House."
Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
