CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER - U.K. BIG BROTHER CLEARED OVER COOLIO COMPLAINTS

U.K. BIG BROTHER CLEARED OVER COOLIO COMPLAINTS

U.K. reality show CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER has been cleared of breaching British broadcast rules after hundreds of viewers complained about rapper COOLIO's behaviour on the show.
Network Channel 4 came under fire over footage of the Gangsta's Paradise star apparently bullying female housemates during the programme's run in January (09).
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom received 527 complaints about the show, ranging from allegations about Coolio's behaviour to suggestions producers portrayed the star as a negative stereotype of a black man.
However, Ofcom found Channel 4 chiefs did not break any guidelines - insisting the rapper played the "villain of the piece", which is to be expected from such a show.
In a statement, Ofcom bosses ruled: "Any potentially offensive content that was shown and the manner in which the friction and the arguments were handled and presented by Big Brother on behalf of Channel 4, were adequately justified by the context."
A spokesperson for Channel 4 says, "Conflicts can arise within the Big Brother house, but both the producers and commissioning editors encourage housemates to work differences out amongst themselves initially.
"Channel 4 has robust procedures in place to safeguard housemates' welfare and avoid any harm or offence to fellow housemates or viewers, and Big Brother will intervene as and when necessary."