Reality TV sparks international row

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“Big Brother” has done it again. The British reality TV show has sparked controversy before, but this time it’s on an international scale. This season features Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, the target of some questionable comments from her castmates, who have mocked her accent and questioned her cooking because she’s from India. Reports of her shoddy treatment have appeared on the front page of several Indian newspapers, and there was a small demonstration by her fans, who marched down a street chanting, “Down with Big Brother!” The show’s main sponsor, Carphone Warehouse, has pulled its advertisements.

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Channel 4 apparently has no plans to cancel the show, but several British MPs are now raising questions about the government-funded network. And Chancellor Gordon Brown, currently in India, has faced enough angry questions from Indian reporters on his visit that he raised the issue with the Indian prime minister.  Back home, Tony Blair was pressed on the Shetty controversy by Keith Vaz, a member of the House of Commons who is of Indian origin. The British prime minister said he hasn’t watched the show.

FP asked Dale Bhagwagar, Shilpa’s spokesman, if she planned to stay on the show despite the uproar. “Of course, she is a strong-willed girl and will stay on,” he replied.