Africa's latest Big Brother
season has again been marred by a sex assault that saw a contestant being
expelled from Big Brother Niaja after he was seen inappropriately
touching and feeling a sleeping female contestant.
The latest incident in the controversial show
is once again raising concern about why M-Net and the producers, Endemol Shine
Africa, are not adequately protecting participants, especially women, in the
show despite several prior promises to put better measures in place after
previous sexual and physical assaults against women.
In the latest shocking incident, the
contestant Kenem was expelled after viewers saw how he assaulted a sleeping
T-Boss who had no idea what was happening to her.
Footage placed on YouTube went viral until
YouTube suddenly blocked it saying it's been removed because its "violating
YouTube's policy on nudity or sexual content".
Kemen was removed from the camera house in
Linden, Johannesburg, where previous versions of Big Brother Africa and Big
Brother Mzansi were filmed and where the latest second season of Big
Brother Naija is taking place.
Although made for Nigeria, Big Brother
Naija is broadcast 24 hours per day to the whole continent on MultiChoice's
DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
Kemen has gone to
ground since his removal and isn't speaking to the media.
MultiChoice Africa and Endemol Shine Africa
have twice been asked for a statement.
In a response M-Net says "M-Net and the show
producers Endemol Shine Africa are committed to ensuring the safety and
well-being of all housemates in the Big Brother house at all times."
"We view the actions of Kemen as
inappropriate behaviour, and as such we considered this in a very serious light
and will continue to take necessary disciplinary action against housemates who
break the rules of conduct in the Big Brother house".
In February 2014 the Big Brother Mzansi
contestant Mbali Zulu was was expelled after he physically assaulted and
slapped Iris Miya.
After the incident M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle
said "our viewers understand that these isolated incidents do not represent our
brand" and that "the safety of reality show contestants continues to be M-Net's
paramount concern, so all contestants are screened intensively and undergo
vigorous psychological, as well as medical assessments, with highly qualified
practitioners within these fields prior to their selection for any reality
show".
In 2010 Endemol Shine and M-Net had to expel
Hannington Kuteesa after fighting with a female contestant in Big
Brother, and in 2013 contestant Nando was given the boot from the
show.
During the second season of Big Brother
Africa Ofunneka was sexually assaulted by contestant Richard.
After the latest sexual assault, the previous
Big Brother housemate Lexi Van on social media said that "This upsets
me! I know a lot of men like this!"
