Big Brother Africa: ‘Fingergate’

THE fallout over what is now being dubbed ‘Fingergate’ continues.

Reports on BBA’s ‘Saturday of shame’ made the front page of a number of South African newspapers, including The Star and The Cape Argus, and have appeared in newspapers and tabloids across Africa. Viewers have also been interviewed about the incident, which involved Richard and his alleged sexual abuse of Ofunneka, on call-in shows.In addition, people are petitioning the broadcasting authorities in South Africa to ask them to review the footage In the face of public pressure, BBA issued a statement (refer yesterday’s The Namibian), which, far from laying the matter to rest, appears to have added fuel to the fire because it seemingly tried to “disingenuously” downplay the sex abuse issue.For scores of BBA viewers the big TEST now, given BB trying to downplay the issue, is whether last Saturday’s events will be screened, IN FULL, on its two ‘UNCUT’ shows (22h10 tonight on MNA, and at 02h00 on Africa Magic).In numerous messages on BBA sites and elsewhere, viewers are asking how Richard can now even be allowed to qualify for the BBA 2 prize of US$100 000 given his behaviour.”Are we going to reward a man who cheated on his wife on continent-wide television, and abused another woman? How on earth can that be allowed? It is inconceivable.It is a slap in the face to every African woman,” was how one message summed it up.On Wednesday, The Tonight section of the Independent newspaper group in South Africa ran an article ‘Fury over Big Brother sex act’, and indicated that rape charges could not be ruled out.It reports that in South Africa, viewers, anti-abuse activists and lawyers have condemned “Saturday’s antics”.”While the programme is habitually controversial, Saturday’s episode pushed the boundaries in a way many viewers found unacceptable on moral and ethical grounds.”The Tonight article quoted Durban-based independent television producer Liza Aziz as saying that Saturday’s episode of Big Brother Africa exceeded the bounds of ethical broadcasting.”It is not only demeaning to one woman, but to women in general,” said Aziz.Vincent Moaga, spokesperson for the SA Human Rights Commission, said the commission condemned the incident.”We have high levels of sexual violence and abuse against women and girl children in this country.It is unacceptable for a powerful medium such as television to be seen to be promoting this behaviour, and corrupting young minds,” he said.In other countries, housemates have been removed from the house for offensive behaviour.In Big Brother 2006 in Australia, two male housemates, John and Ashley, were disqualified after a controversial “turkey slapping incident”: a female housemate was sexually molested, allegedly “playfully” (without getting graphic, it has to do with the rubbing of the male member against a woman).Viewers have also been interviewed about the incident, which involved Richard and his alleged sexual abuse of Ofunneka, on call-in shows.In addition, people are petitioning the broadcasting authorities in South Africa to ask them to review the footage In the face of public pressure, BBA issued a statement (refer yesterday’s The Namibian), which, far from laying the matter to rest, appears to have added fuel to the fire because it seemingly tried to “disingenuously” downplay the sex abuse issue.For scores of BBA viewers the big TEST now, given BB trying to downplay the issue, is whether last Saturday’s events will be screened, IN FULL, on its two ‘UNCUT’ shows (22h10 tonight on MNA, and at 02h00 on Africa Magic).In numerous messages on BBA sites and elsewhere, viewers are asking how Richard can now even be allowed to qualify for the BBA 2 prize of US$100 000 given his behaviour.”Are we going to reward a man who cheated on his wife on continent-wide television, and abused another woman? How on earth can that be allowed? It is inconceivable.It is a slap in the face to every African woman,” was how one message summed it up.On Wednesday, The Tonight section of the Independent newspaper group in South Africa ran an article ‘Fury over Big Brother sex act’, and indicated that rape charges could not be ruled out.It reports that in South Africa, viewers, anti-abuse activists and lawyers have condemned “Saturday’s antics”.”While the programme is habitually controversial, Saturday’s episode pushed the boundaries in a way many viewers found unacceptable on moral and ethical grounds.”The Tonight article quoted Durban-based independent television producer Liza Aziz as saying that Saturday’s episode of Big Brother Africa exceeded the bounds of ethical broadcasting.”It is not only demeaning to one woman, but to women in general,” said Aziz.Vincent Moaga, spokesperson for the SA Human Rights Commission, said the commission condemned the incident.”We have high levels of sexual violence and abuse against women and girl children in this country.It is unacceptable for a powerful medium such as television to be seen to be promoting this behaviour, and corrupting young minds,” he said.In other countries, housemates have been removed from the house for offensive behaviour.In Big Brother 2006 in Australia, two male housemates, John and Ashley, were disqualified after a controversial “turkey slapping incident”: a female housemate was sexually molested, allegedly “playfully” (without getting graphic, it has to do with the rubbing of the male member against a woman).