Big Brother was reportedly ‘slammed with more than 700 Ofcom complaints’ after housemate Sarah sparked outrage with a ‘racial joke’, according to The Sun.
The spa accounts manager was quickly issued a formal warning during Thursday’s instalment, with many furious viewers demanding she was axed from the show.
The spa accounts manager was called into The Diary Room after she appeared to put playful turn on the slogan Stop The Boats.
Sarah first made the comments in a previous shopping task, when she called housemate Hanah ‘gloaty.’
During a task, she also chanted the phrase ‘Stop the gloats!’, a spin on former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s campaign to ‘swiftly remove’ anyone who entered the country illegally on small boats.
Big Brother was recently slammed with more than 700 Ofcom complaints after housemate Sarah (pictured) sparked outrage with a ‘racial joke’
After putting playful turn on the slogan Stop The Boats, Sarah first made the comments in a previous shopping task, when she called housemate Hanah (pictured) ‘gloaty’
The comments came to light during Thursday’s episode as a result of a shopping task, and later in the evening, Hanah, Khaled and Segun expressed their concerns about racial sensitivity surrounding them.
Confiding in Segun, Hanah first said: ‘I don’t know how I feel about that one. I don’t like that.’
Later in the Diary Room, she went onto say: ‘I don’t think that’s funny, if I’m being honest with you.
‘I studied international politics; I graduated with 2:1, babes. I’m not stupid.’
Sarah was then called into the Diary Room by Big Brother, who told her: ‘Sarah, Big Brother wants to talk to you about language you have been using in the house.’
‘Hanah, Khaled, and Emma had been aware that you previously used the term ”gloaty” about Hanah. This was referring to a conversation you had with Emma where you described Hanah as gloaty in a reference to Marcello becoming the Head of House.
‘On a separate occasion prior to this, during the Vampires and Villagers task, together with Nathan, you chanted, ”Stop the gloats”, which you confirmed was a reference to the political phrase, ”Stop the boats”.’
Sarah, who once admitted to voting UKIP, replied: ‘For me, it was just funny because it rhymed, and I don’t really talk about politics that often because it’s not something I’m interested in, but it was a joke.
The spa accounts manager was quickly issued a formal warning during Thursday’s instalment, with many furious viewers demanding she was axed from the show
In a candid chat inside the Diary Room, Hanah admitted she ‘didn’t think it was funny’
Confiding in Segun after Sarah explained the context of her joke, Hanah said: ‘I don’t know how I feel about that one. I don’t like that’
‘It had no racial connotations, I have no connotations about boats or immigration, or anything like that. It was just making funny of political slogans.’
Big Brother went onto explain the context of the chants saying: ‘When Hanah questioned you about you calling her gloaty, you referred to the ‘Stop the gloats’ chant you had created with Nathan during the earlier task,’ Big Brother told her.
‘Your use of language around this political reference has had an impact on your fellow housemates.
‘As you know, the Big Brother house is made up of people from all walks of life with different life experiences.’
Visibly confused, Sarah then replied: ‘Sorry, I’m not disagreeing with you, there is lots of walks of life, but I did not mean that with anything towards immigration or racial intent.
Read More Big Brother fans accuse ITV of ‘copying’ iconic BBC show with latest shopping task 
‘For me, it was just a funny wordplay.’
Asked if there was anything she would like to say, Sarah said: ‘I’d like to say that if I’ve offended anybody by making that kind of joke, I am genuinely 100% remorseful.
‘That is down to my own stupidity and selfishness, me making a joke with wordplay and being like, ”Haha! Good joke!” and not thinking about how that would affect other people.’
‘People’s feelings are totally valid, and if they are offended by that, I am so sorry. I have no malice in my heart against anyone.’
Big Brother then went onto tell Sarah: ‘Big Brother cannot permit language that is likely to be considered offensive by housemates or the viewing public.’
Saying she understood, Sarah responded: ‘Yes, very, very much so.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV reps for a comment on the multiple Ofcom complaints.
On Thursday, viewers were quick to share their own fury on social media, with some calling for Sarah to be removed from the house for her comments.
Posts on X included: ‘STOP THE WHATT??? Not Sarah baiting herself out to being a racist… she needs to get EVICTED immediately that ain’t no joke;’
‘I wasn’t joking. Sarah crossed a line;’
‘In the space of five minutes, Sarah has made an ignorant racial ”joke” body-shamed a 20-year-old girl and has humiliated her in front of the entire group;’
‘What did Sarah just say…? She needs to be next to go I’m so serious;
Asked if there was anything she would like to say, Sarah said: ‘I’d like to say that if I’ve offended anybody by making that kind of joke, I am genuinely 100% remorseful’
Viewers were quick to share their own fury on social media, with some calling for Sarah to be removed from the house for her comments
‘Come on Big Brother just remove Sarah, she deserves it and you’ve removed people for less before;
‘Watching Sarah get told out by Big Brother, now kick her out; Sarah talking about ”stop the boats” oh I really don’t like her.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for ITV for further comment.
Elsewhere in the episode, Lily also sparked fury among her housemates by appearing to break the rules yet again, declaring ‘she was going to nominate’ Sarah after a disagreement.
Friday’s episode will see Lily, Ali, Khaled, Emma and Baked Potato set to face a double eviction, with two housemates set to bid farewell during the next live show.
Big Brother continues on Friday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
BIG BROTHER 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS!
EMMA
AGE : 53
FROM: Altrincham, originally EsSєx
OCCUPATION: Aesthetics Business owner
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? If somebody doesn’t get my humour then they might think ‘she’s really abrupt and to the point and says it how it is’ but that’s my humour.
ROSIE
AGE: 29
FROM: Cornwall (originally EsSєx)
OCCUPATION: Dental ᴀssistant
DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? No! I think it’s about being your most authentic self. The viewers aren’t dumb – they can sniff out manufactured drama.
NATHAN
AGE: 24
FROM: Dumfries
OCCUPATION: Pork Salesman and King Charles’ former butler
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? Accidentally offending someone – someone taking something I’ve said the wrong way. Not a terrible offence, but if someone takes something I said the wrong way.
SEGUN
AGE: 25
FROM: Watford
OCCUPATION: Charity Videographer
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE? I think I’ll bring energy, comedic energy, vitality and a lot of entertainment and being uplifting.
DAZE
AGE: 24
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Climate Activist
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? It’s been a difficult financial period for me – climate activism is quite often something you do in debt. It would be nice to have money to do the work
KHALED
AGE: 23
FROM: Manchester
OCCUPATION: Sales Manager
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I didn’t actually know what Big Brother was. I thought it’s a new opportunity in life. I have no interest in being famous.
MARTHA
AGE: 26
FROM: Scarborough, originally from Margate
OCCUPATION: NHS Administrator
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Definitely sitting on the Diary Room chair. That is a bucket list ticked off. Also just experiencing that isolation. I’m going to really enjoy not having my phone. I just love not having that responsibility.
LILY
AGE: 20
FROM: Warrington
OCCUPATION: Chinese Takeaway Server
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? Probably that I’m annoying but I don’t care.
ALI
AGE: 38
FROM: London
OCCUPATION: Forensic Psychologist
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Just being away and thrown into a totally new environment, completely different to anything I’ve done before, completely different to anything I’ll ever do in the future.
THOMAS
AGE: 20
FROM: Carlisle
OCCUPATION: Amputee Footballer
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? One of my bad traits is that I speak a lot. I do a lot of talking without thinking. In myself I never get offended, you can say anything about me – I’ve already heard it before.
RYAN
AGE: 28
FROM: Stockport
OCCUPATION: Marketing and Events
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve always been a fan of the show – it’s been a bit of a childhood dream to go on it.
HANAH
AGE: 24
FROM: West London
OCCUPATION: HR Consultant
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? I feel like whoever nominates is just a hater, babes! I think it might be my opinions that people nominate me for.
IZAAZ
AGE: 29
FROM: London, originally Swansea
OCCUPATION: Sales Consultant
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE? I’ll bring a lot of happiness and kindness. I reckon I’ll be there for a lot of people. I’m not the type of person to fall out with anyone and if I did, I’d make up for it.
SARAH
AGE: 27
FROM: Shrewsbury
OCCUPATION: Spa Account Manager
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? A few different things. One, I’d have my dream wedding. Two, go on a nice holiday. And three, maybe start my own business.
MARCELLO
AGE: 34
FROM: East London
OCCUPATION: Youth Mentor
DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? Not at all. I’m going to show love, I’m going to be myself and that’s all I can do.
DEAN
AGE: 35
FROM: East London
OCCUPATION: Barber
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve been a fan for the longest time. I’ve wanted to do it from the age of 11 and never had the confidence to do it. As I got older, I was still obsessed with the show and as soon as it came back it was ‘this is my time to apply’.
