Big Brother has sparked Ofcom complaints from viewers after ‘alleged misogynistic comments’ were made by a housemate on the new series.
Last week, fans of the reality ITV show expressed their fury after housemate Marcello, a 34-year-old youth mentor, lied about kissing Ali, a 38-year-old forensic psychologist.
The pair of them had been vaping in the smoking area, when Marcello claimed that they ‘vape-kissed’.
Despite Ali insisting that’s ‘not a thing’, Marcello then rushed back to the other housemates saying that they had ‘just kissed’, despite Ali being a lesbian and having a girlfriend outside the house.
After Ali stressed that they didn’t kiss, Marcello then laughed, saying: ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. We didn’t kiss; I’m joking.’
Later on when Ali confronted Marcello, telling him: ‘You’re trying to ruin my life,’ he responded: ‘You came in the smokers’ room! You knew what you were doing.’
Fans of Big Brother were irate over the situation, with one called txbamxnmicxh_s saying on X that Marcello was ‘vile’ and ‘I need him out of that house NOW’.
MiichaelKing added that Ali was ‘so clearly uncomfortable around Marcello,’ adding that considering ITV chose to show the footage from the smoking area, ‘the producer can clearly see an issue with how he acts’.
It was also highlighted that Ali’s experience ‘perfectly reflected the fetishisation, invalidation, and sheer distress that lesbians and queer women face at the hands of straight men every single day’.
It has now been revealed that on Friday October 11, the day that this interaction emerged on the show, 72 complaints were submitted to Ofcom.
The media watchdog has confirmed to Metro.co.uk that the complaints in question ‘related to Marcello’s behaviour and his alleged misogynistic comments’.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that four housemates were up for eviction – Lily, 20; Daze, 24; Martha, 26; and Ali.
Martha’s nomination came about because Khaled, 23, was given the power to make a killer nomination.
The second eviction of this series of Big Brother is due to take place on Friday night, which will see presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best announce the results.
Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.
Big Brother returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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