A domestic violence group has criticised Celebrity Big Brother for casting former TOWIE star Dan Osborne, suggesting that show is running the risk of normalising abuse.
Although it’s married Dan’s rumoured fling with fellow housemate Gabby Allen that may have got him into the Big Brother house, he was involved in a far bigger scandal a few years ago.
Dan was fired from TOWIE after a video emerged of him appearing to threaten ex-girlfriend Megan Tomlin. He was questioned by police at the time but not charged, and has since apologised.
When Dan entered the house last week, he insisted that he never meant those threatening words, saying: “Most people say things when they’re angry that they never mean. I said something that I never ever meant, I’m embarrassed by it. It was a horrible time.
“I think it was my children that kept me going.”
Domestic violence group Solace Women’s Aid doesn’t agree that Dan should be given the platform to make such statements, telling The Daily Mail that it is irresponsible of Big Brother to cast the reality star.
“We are disappointed that Celebrity Big Brother have taken this stance particularly when TOWIE removed [Dan] from the show,” a Solace Women’s Aid spokesperson said.
“ITV took a strong position that domestic violence is never acceptable and any influential broadcaster has a social responsibility to take a stand against it, otherwise this kind of behaviour is normalised and women’s lives are at stake.
“In this case, the victim came forward with evidence of abuse and whether a charge was brought against Osborne or not is immaterial. A threat to kill will have a devastating impact, it’s frightening and never okay, and the trauma will stay with the victim for years after.
“By having Osborne on Celebrity Big Brother is an opportunity to rehabilitate his image, not his behaviour, and what message does this send to the public and especially to the 1.9 million people affected by domestic violence every year in the UK.
“We look to channels like 5 to move on from this decision and become amazing and strong advocates for women.
“We invite them to come and meet some of the women and children affected by domestic violence and come behind the scenes at Solace to gain insight into women’s lived experience of abuse.”
Digital Spy has reached out to Channel 5 for a response to Solace Women’s Aid, but a spokesperson declined to comment.
Last week, former Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp condemned Celebrity Big Brother for casting both Hardeep Singh Kohli and Dan Osborne, arguing that they’d been hired because of what they did to women.
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Thursday (August 23) at 9pm on Channel 5, followed by Rylan Clark-Neal breaking down all of the house action on Bit on the Side at 11pm.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) or Women’s Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk). Both charities run the 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline, 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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