I haven’t been recapping Big Brother this season but I have been watching it religiously.  Something that I wanted throw out there for debate are the racist comments that some BB15 contestants or “houseguests”, as CBS calls them, have made and the house’s reactions to the comments.

Soon after the season start filming I was reading on TMZ  about the racist and homophobic comments the houseguests were making that were being picked up on the 24-hr live feed.  Here were the examples that were given in the article I first read:
— Aaryn called gay contestant Andy a “queer.”

Then it came out that the three of them had either lost their jobs or their contracts due to the comments that were made on camera…. and justifiably so, in my opinion.
big-brother-aaryn-exposedBut what surprised me the most was on Sunday when CBS decided to air Aaryn in particular making her remarks.  Seeing the way she said them, in what context, and how oblivious she was that anything she said was even offensive was just mind boggling to me.  She pretended to talk with an Asian accent mocking the women that does her manicures back at home, in a stereotypical fashion.  She woke up one morning and looked in the mirror and said she looked like an Asian with slanty eyes.  She told the Asian woman in the house she needs to go and make some rice.  I’m just going by memory here, but there was a lot more that they showed as well.

Along with her comments they showed how the houseguests were reacting to this.  For the most part… not a word.  An occasional nervous chuckle would be blurted out… kind of in a “I can’t believe you just said that kind of way”… but for the most part no one called her out on it.  Why?  For fear of jeopardizing their game play.  I understand that, even though it’s not right, the minorities in the house may be used to this kind of behavior… I’m sure they run into ignorant people often and can’t lose their temper every time it happens.  However, I would have liked it if one of the Caucasian stood up to her to say, “you know, what you’re saying is very offensive and not funny.”  Maybe even have a civilized conversation about it and educate Aaryn on why it’s offensive… because she either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.I am happy that CBS and Big Brother producers chose to air this because it opens the dialogue up for viewers to discuss this.  But I have to admit that I’m disappointed that the other houseguests haven’t stood up to those making the remarks.  This is a perfect opportunity and platform to educate not only Aaryn (and the other two contestants making the comments) but the rest of America as well.  It saddens me that so far this behavior, while not necessarily being condoned, is being tolerated in the house.  Half million dollars or not… it’s time to stand up and say something.

What do you think?  Do you think the house guests should say something to those making the comments or let it go so they don’t hurt their game play?

One response »

  1. This was written just before watching tonight’s episode. I was happy to see that Amanda tried addressing the issue with Aaryn and I’m saddened that Aaryn thought it was ridiculous and it’s the same as them making blonde jokes against her. Ugh!

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