Big Brother house mates apologize to Bollywood star but controversy continues

LONDON (AP) - Indian actress Shilpa Shetty has accepted apologies from her tormentors on the "Celebrity Big Brother" television show but the controversy rumbles on over what thousands of Britons see as racist abuse. Channel 4 television, which has been under pressure from politicians and the public to deal with the issue, said producers had spoken to Shetty's antagonists, Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd.

Any member of the public who thought it was worth 50 pence could vote by phone or text Friday whether Goody or Shetty would be evicted from the house.

Fearing trouble if Goody got the boot, the producers banned the public from gathering Friday night near the studio in Elstree, 20 kilometres north of London.

"Over the past few days Celebrity Big Brother has generated an intense and, at times, heated public debate which the evicted housemate will be unaware of," said a statement from Channel 4.

"As a result, Channel 4 and (production campaign) Endemol have taken the decision to conduct tonight's eviction in front of a studio audience and without a crowd."

Goody, who became a celebrity after enduring much abuse herself in an earlier edition of Big Brother, approached Shetty on Thursday night, saying: "I know that what has happened has not been nice for you . . . and a lot of stuff got said the other day from you and from myself."

"I didn't say it in a racial way . . . I do not judge people by the colour of their skin," said Goody.

"I know that, I don't think you're racist," Shetty said, and the two hugged.

Lloyd, a former beauty queen, also apologized, saying she was disgusted with her own behaviour.

"I didn't agree with some of the things you said to Jade but I especially didn't agree with some of the things that Jade said to you," Lloyd said.

"I'm sorry. 'Cause I'm young and quite naive, I've probably took the route where I'll stick with Jade.

"I feel really disgusted at myself . . . I'm following the leader, following the group - when you are a really nice girl," Lloyd said.

Shetty responded: "Give me a hug."

On Wednesday, a major sponsor suspended its deal with "Celebrity Big Brother," a chain of perfume shops pulled Goody's fragrance, "Shh..", from its shelves, and an insurance company cancelled its contract with Lloyd.

Britain's Treasury chief Gordon Brown, who has been questioned on "Big Brother" every day on his current visit to India, said he wouldn't tell Britons how to vote on the eviction - but dropped some heavy hints.

"It's for people to decide for themselves how to vote, but I think a vote for Britain is a vote for tolerance," Brown told Sky News.

"I think when people are voting, they do know that when they have complained about certain things that have happened, they are saying we are a country of tolerance and fairness," Brown said.

So far, broadcasting regulator OFCOM has received 38,000 complaints about "Celebrity Big Brother," far and away the most complaints ever about a British television program.

"What we are seeing is a noxious brew of old-fashioned class conflict, straightforward bullying, ignorance and quite vicious racial bigotry," said Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. "It is outrageous, and it is unpleasant."

It was also moving up in the ratings with 5.7 million viewers tuning in Thursday night. The program was also heavily covered in newspapers and news broadcasts.

The Indian Tourism Office saw an opportunity to drum up a little business from the controversy, placing advertisements in several British newspapers on Friday.

"Dear Jade Goody," the ad said. "Once your current commitments are over, may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India.

"Being one of the world's oldest civilizations, our land is one where the ancient and the modern coexist and a multitude of religions live in harmony."

© The Canadian Press, 2007