Ofcom receives over 11,000 complaints after 'Celebrity Big Brother's Ryan Thomas is warned over 'punching' Roxanne
Celebrity Big Brother viewers are flooding Ofcom with complaints, after Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett’s tearful complaint about Ryan Thomas ‘punching’ her resulted in him being warned by show producers.
As of Friday afternoon, Ofcom has received over 11,000 complaints regarding the incident. “We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate,” an Ofcom spokesperson said.
Pallett referred to Coronation Street actor Thomas as a ‘woman-beater’, and broke down in the diary room, demanding that he be removed from the house.
She later also slept in a separate room from Thomas, claiming that she didn’t feel safe.
However, the vast majority of viewers have sided with Thomas, citing the video evidence of the incident in question being clearly a ‘play fight’.
Immediately afterwards, Pallett also appeared to joke about it, telling housemates ‘I’ve just been beaten up by Corrie’s Jason Grimshaw’.
But nonetheless, Thomas was given an official warning about his conduct.
The family of actor Ryan Thomas has sprung to his defence, writing via his Twitter account: “What happened tonight was ridiculously unfair and it’s actually scary to see how another individual can try and actively tarnish someone’s character!
“But thankfully the footage is there for everyone to see. Don’t let them dampen your light brother! Keep shining.”
What happened tonight was ridiculously unfair and it’s actually scary to see how another individual can try and actively tarnish someone’s character! But thankfully the footage is there for everyone to see. Don’t let them dampen your light brother! Keep shining 🙏❤️👌 pic.twitter.com/8u8YRzdGE8
— Ryan Thomas (@ryanjamesthomas) August 30, 2018
Thomas’s girlfriend, The Only Way Is Essex star Lucy Mecklenburgh added: “Please RT or like if u want Roxanne removed. I don’t think she is mentally fit to be in the house.”
Thomas’s brother added:
I actually don’t think it’s fair that she even stays in the house after this…im in complete and utter shock. She’s clearly unwell im sorry 🙈
— Scott Thomas (@scottyspecial) August 30, 2018
Other previous contestants also weighed in on the row.
I said the first night of @bbuk that Roxanne was a total fake #CBB
I didn’t realise she was so nasty
She has a history with Ryan and has been waiting for any small thing to get him
We all saw what happened and I believe @ryanjamesthomas should sue for defamation of character
— James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) August 30, 2018
I don’t believe in any man raising a hand to any women but I do believe what Roxanne is doing in big brother is making a mockery of women who have actually been terrified in violent relationships. Me being one! Am sorry but this isn’t a game luv it’s a serious accusation
— Danielle Lloyd (@MissDLloyd) August 30, 2018
OMG!!! Roxanne!!! She’s known Ryan for years! She used to go out with our friend!! I’m horrified!!! #cbb
— Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) August 30, 2018
And many fans of the show tagged Ofcom in tweets complaining about Pallett’s conduct.
@Ofcom absolutely disgusted at the way CBB handled Roxanne’s complaint against Ryan. There is no way that he should have received a warning.
— Karen Taylor (@kaz1407) August 30, 2018
@bbuk @Ofcom @RoxannePallett I have reported this nonsense to Ofcom. Roxanne pallet needs to be removed from the house. Nasty, vile and spiteful.
— Bradley (@Bradley1976) August 30, 2018
@Ofcom you MUST do something about the conduct that was shown in tonight’s #cbb show! One rule for him (on a complete lie) and another for a women, this is not right as men should be protected equally to women in the house! She even held the wrong side!
— Hailey Roach (@Hailey32roach) August 30, 2018
Celebrity Big Brother continues tonight on Channel 5.
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