Omar breaks Big Brother record with 22k complaints

Omar El Mayer has become the most complained-about contestant in the history of Big Brother’s civilian series, according to the Daily Mail ^[2]. The 21-year-old housemate has triggered 22,499 complaints to Ofcom regarding his behaviour towards partner Rhianna Collins, a figure that surpasses all previous records across the 21 seasons aired on Channel 4 and Channel 5.

The Sun reports that viewers have described Omar’s actions as "toxic" and "controlling" following episodes that aired earlier this month ^[1]. Specific complaints centre on Omar scolding Rhianna for discussing their relationship issues with other housemates, using phrases such as "don't talk about me" and "sort yourself out" ^[2]. This volume of complaints places the incident as the third highest in Big Brother history, trailing only Jade Goody’s racism controversy and Roxanne Pallett’s punch-gate.

Last week, producers issued a formal reprimand to Omar after a single episode generated over 7,000 complaints ^[2]. During a visit to the Diary Room, Big Brother told Omar that his language appeared to dismiss the feelings of fellow housemates and could cause offence to the public. Omar responded by stating he had "done nothing but look out for" Rhianna and insisted he had no malicious intentions.

Despite the warning, many viewers expressed disappointment that the intervention was not stronger, with some calling for ITV to remove Omar from the house ^[2]. The charity Women’s Aid also issued a statement describing his behaviour as "worrying". Following a period where the couple agreed to pause their relationship, they rekindled their romance in Monday’s episode after admitting they were struggling with the distance. The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment regarding the situation.