'I felt groped': More Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo scandal as M-Net and Red Pepper Pictures are forced to evict KayB over sexual assault

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net and production company Red Pepper Pictures have been forced to remove yet another contestant from MultiChoice's scandal-riddled Big Brother Mzansi franchise with Florence Mphirime, known as KayB, evicted over sexual assault.

The abrupt removal of the 23-year-old student from Bloemfontein who groped and touched other contestants inappropriately is the first eviction from the latest Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season, already mired in controversy, screened on MultiChoice's DStv.

The eviction from the show with LottoStar, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and Chillers Punch as sponsors and executive produced by Natalie Bleksley, and is the latest in a string of contestants in the South African and Nigerian franchises booted from the reality show - season after season - over physical violence, verbal threats like rape, verbal attacks, as well as sexual harassment and sexual assault.

KayB's removal comes after Bokang Chephetsa, known as Beekay, said "I felt groped" by KayB and after Fortunate Setwaba, known as Nate, separately said KayB touched her very inappropriately and that KayB fails to understand consent.

According to section 16 of the production rulebook, KayB's inappropriate touching and groping are classified as sexual assault. Contestants told her repeatedly they're uncomfortable with her repeated sexual advances in the form of conversations and inappropriate touching.

It comes just two days after producers had to send in an expert in harassment and consent into the camera-filled house who did an educational session with the contestants following the fallout from last week's Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo controversy.

Last week the show was engulfed in scandal when DStv broadcast sexual assault victim-shaming when Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, made shocking comments about KayB after she revealed that she was herself a victim of sexual assault.

Before the latest season started, Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, said M-Net will do "devious things" to the new crop of contestants and "We're experimenting with things never done before".

"We're determined to make them as uncomfortable as possible. We’re really pushing the envelope. We'll test their intolerance to see how much they can take without breaking any legal rules. The team has come up with devious things."

On Wednesday M-Net waited for a produced made-for-TV moment to first showcase KayB's eviction on DStv before responding to media about the sexual harassment incidents that viewers have talked about since Tuesday.

Portia Hlongwane, M-Net spokesperson for Mzansi Magic, in response to a media query made on Wednesday afternoon, only on Thursday morning confirmed that KayB has been removed.

"In light of a conversation in the Big Brother Mzansi house concerning Beekay who claimed that he was physically violated by KayB, Big Brother investigated the matter further as the safety of all housemates is of utmost importance".

"After careful consideration, taking into account of the serious nature of the claim, Big Brother has decided that KayB be disqualified from the Big Brother house.:

"This decision closely follows an educational session that was held with all the housemates this past Sunday to raise awareness and instil knowledge about gender-based violence."

"We have always maintained that we do not condone any acts of gender-based violence and as such we will be taking the corrective action."

"Furthermore, due to the seriousness of this incident and the fact that the housemate in question was in the voting round for elimination this week, voting for housemates will be closed immediately to ensure fairness for all remaining housemates."

M-Net shied away from answering other questions.

M-Net was asked what it makes of the latest incident coming just days after someone specifically told the contestants what not to do, why this behaviour keeps happening and is being broadcast on DStv, and what brands like LottoStar and Unilever have told M-Net about being associated and featuring alongside unsavoury content.

M-Net declined to answer.

Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo is the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the 11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

Big Brother Umlilo runs as a 24/7 channel on DStv with highlight programming on the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel.

ALSO READ: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

ALSO READ: M-Net will do 'devious things' and make housemates 'as uncomfortable as possible' in 2025's Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo

The Trash Starts: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

by Thinus Ferreira

Like clockwork, new brand damage has exploded for and engulfed MultiChoice and DStv, M-Net and Mzansi Magic as well as sponsors LottoStar and Unilever's Robertsons Spice after the latest season of Big Brother Mzansi aired nasty sexual assault victim-shaming content which has been slammed as "deeply troubling".

The latest season of Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo executive produced by Natalie Bleksley and Red Pepper Pictures, started 10 days ago and is the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the  11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

Shocked DStv subscribers watched as MultiChoice aired comments on DStv from Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo housemates Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, victim-shaming Florence Mphirime, known as Kay B, after she revealed that she was a victim of sexual assault.

Ashley Ogle and Bonni Bee slammed Kay B, claiming that she was just looking for attention.

Both Ashley Ogle and Bonni Bee violated pre-set rules of the show.

The Women for Change organisation that helps and supports gender-based violence victims, in a statement, slammed the abhorrent behaviour that MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic showed to DStv subscribers, labelling it as "deeply troubling".

"The recent conversation between Ashley and Bonnie on Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo, which invalidated a survivor's experience, is deeply troubling," says Women for Change.

"When a woman bravely shares her story of sexual assault, it is vital to offer support, not judgment or mockery. Labelling Florence "Kay B" Mphirime's experience as attention-seeking and failing to stand with survivors are harmful micro-aggressions that perpetuate a culture of victim-blaming." 

"These attitudes foster a culture of silence and shame, discouraging survivors from speaking out about their experiences, and it extends far beyond the so-called "mean girl" behaviour - it highlights a systemic problem of rape culture. We must believe in survivors, amplify their voices, and stand with them in solidarity."

M-Net and MultiChoice were asked for comment on the latest utterances that amount to victim shaming in the Big Brother Mzansi season.

M-Net in response to the media query told me "The opinions and views expressed in the Big Brother Mzansi season 5 house are that of the housemates and do not represent the views of Mzansi Magic, or any of the sponsors LottoStar, Robertsons Spice and Chillers Punch".

"Big Brother's rules for the house are important and taken seriously. Last night, Big Brother addressed the housemates about their misconduct and issued the relevant warnings and punishment."

"Big Brother will continue to address any disobedient behaviour that does not adhere to Big Brother's rules."

M-Net was also asked what sponsors Unilever and LottoStar make of sponsoring a show that continues to cause controversy and does brand damage to their companies by being associated with reality trash TV content.

M-Net told TVwithThinus that "Our sponsors for Big Brother Mzansi are aware of the nature of the show, however, Mzansi Magic and the show sponsors do not endorse any views of the housemates."

Unilever in a statement on the Instagram account of Robertsons Spice - which was not automatically sent to media by either M-Net or the Playmakers PR agency responsible for media liaison this season - echoed what M-Net said in response to the media query, and clearly tried to distance itself from the sexual assault victim-shaming broadcast by MultiChoice's DStv.

"The opinions and views expressed in the Big Brother Mzansi season 5 house are that of the housemates and do not represent the views of Mzansi Magic, LottoStar, Robertsons Spice and Chillies Punch. Big Brother house rules are important and are taken seriously," Robertsons Spice displayed on a card on Instagram.

M-Net was also asked whether Red Pepper Pictures and M-Net will be doing any educational session with the participants in the latest Big Brother Mzansi season, as well as for information on what education sessions, if any, the producers and M-Net PR did with the contestants beforehand to instruct them on what not to do and say.

M-Net told TVwithThinus in response to this question that "We cannot reveal what is planned for the housemates with regards to production content that will be rolling out over the period of the show, however, we have taken a strong note of the incidents that have transpired thus far, which we acknowledge with extreme importance".

"We will follow through with actions on such incidents in the relevant manner." 

All previous seasons of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija on DStv have been rife with shocking instances of physical and verbal assault over the past years, had seen contestants admonished and some removed while MultiChoice continues with in-show sponsorship promotion of drinking and liquor, as well as gambling.