I usually don’t pay attention to the news about the “reality” shows, even if there’s a fake engagement and a bunch of infighting.

We did cover the racist scandal on Big Brother UK this January, when Jade Goody hurled ignorant racist remarks at Shilpa Shetty. Shetty ended up winning the contest and getting all sorts of career opportunities while Goody became a public pariah.

Now another racist scandal has rocked the Big Brother house - with a contestant using the “N” word. In the formerly all-girl house of twelve, which now has one male member, three girls were dancing when one referred to the other using the forbidden word. It wasn’t an insult though, and it seemed like she tried to do it in an oddly casual way.

The Big Brother people took her aside a few hours later and made her get out without saying goodbye to anyone.

Emily Parr was removed from the Big Brother house in the early hours of this morning after calling Charley a “n*****”.

The blonde 19-year-old was dancing with Charley and Nicky in the living room of the Big Brother house at approximately 8.30pm last night when she was heard to say “Are you pushing it out you n*****?” to Charley.

Emily immediately made clear that she had not intended to offend and that the comment had been meant as a joke. In discussing what she had said, Charley and Nicky agreed that they were not personally offended, although both did express shock at the language she had used.

Emily then admitted she should have been more careful with her words.

The comment was not screened as part of the ‘as live’ streaming on E4 and was immediately reported up to senior production staff at Endemol. The decision was taken to remove Emily from the house.

Emily was called to the Diary Room at approximately 3.30 am to be informed of the decision and was removed from the house immediately without further contact with other contestants. The remaining housemates were informed of Big Brother’s decision at approximately 9.30am today.

Emily was one of two housemates nominated for eviction this week and as a result the latest eviction vote has been suspended.

[From News of the World]

Big Brother officials say that it was a “careless” not a “malicious” remark, and it reminds me of Paris Hilton saying to some friends at a party in one of the Paris Exposed videos that “we’re like two n******” which certainly sounded derogatory to me.

Here’s a transcript of what happened:

Emily: (referring to Charley dancing/pushing her hips forward) You pushing it out you n*****.
Nicky: (shocked laughter) Em, I can’t believe you said that.
Charley: You are in trouble.
Emily: Don’t make a big thing out of it then. I was joking.
Charley: I know you were… but that’s some serious s**t, sorry.
Emily: Why?
Charley: Oh my god. I’m not even saying it.
Nicky: Just don’t talk about it anymore.
Emily: I was joking.
Charley: Do you know how many viewers would watch that?
Nicky: Okay, don’t make a big deal out of it.
Charley: Fancy you saying that. I can’t believe you said that.
Emily: Somebody has already used that word in this house.
Charley: No way. (Pause) Yeah, me. I’m a n*****.

Nicky laughs.

Charley: I am one. Fancy you saying it. I know maybe you see it in a rap song. Maybe you and your friends sit there saying it.
Emily: I’m friendly with plenty of black people.
Nicky: And you call them n******?
Emily: Yeah and they call me n******. They call me wiggers as well.
Nicky: I’m quite shocked.
Charley: I’m f***ing in shock.
Emily: It’s not a big deal though is it?
Charley: Not for us it ain’t. F*** me.

[From News of the World]

In the transcript above, Emily justifies her use of the word, saying it’s something she throws around with friends. People are going to say that it’s commonly used in conversation in the black community, but I don’t think it should be thrown around like that on television, even if it is a “reality” show.

You can watch Big Brother online on their website. The episode with the slur will air tonight, and ratings are sure to be up after this latest scandal.