Big Brother receives hundreds of Ofcom complaints over ‘racism and bullying’

| Deputy Entertainment Editor Published October 1, 2026 10:51am Updated October 1, 2026 11:00am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Big Brother has been hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints following a row between housemates Johanne and Rochelle. The pair haven’t seen eye-to-eye since the beginning of the series, but properly butted heads in scenes which were described by viewers as ‘difficult to watch’ on Sunday September 27. Big Brother was even forced to intervene in the row, which came after Rochelle overheard a conversation between Pauline and Johanne. The two housemates had been discussing their experiences with microaggressions, with Johanne saying she felt like a recent argument with Rochelle was ‘micro-aggressive’. She said: ‘My situation with Rochelle felt like a microaggression because I feel like if anybody else was over there heating up their food, say Rhianna, would [Rochelle] have reacted like that? ‘And that’s how you can really decipher a microaggression a lot of times – is just put anybody there that looks like that person, would their behaviour still be the same?’ Big Brother’s Rochelle has been regularly coming to blows with Johanne (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother) Rochelle and Johanne’s feud has become the talk of the house (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother) The episode has now received 493 Ofcom complaints, and 91 complaints about a previous row between the pair in another episode that aired on September 21. Viewers mainly raised concerns over alleged racial comments and bullying. During the argument, Rochelle heard her name mentioned and responded: ‘Would you say, since we’ve been in here, that Rhianna and I have been racist in any way, shape or form?’ As the row escalated, Rochelle raged: ‘F*** off! F*** off!’, before Johanne hit back: ’You’re trashy, you’re trashy. Bye!’ Big Brother then intervened, telling the housemates over the speaker: ‘This is Big Brother, would Johanne come to the Diary Room?’ Earlier in the series, which has been branded ‘the most dramatic to date’, Rochelle had a heated argument about chicken. The series has received over 500 complaints in the last week (Picture: ITV) Johanne has been told to ‘go back to America’ by housemate Omar (Picture: Shutterstock for Big Brother) Rochelle and Rob had been cooking as part of that week’s challenge, and it all lead to what they branded ‘Chickengate’. After serving the delicious dish to their housemates, Johanne panicked and accused the pair of not having properly cooked the meal. Metro has contacted ITV and OfCom for comment. Deals of the Day I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Big Brother airs nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. Arrow MORE: Big Brother punishment sparks another furious row as Jedward brand housemate ‘posh brat’ Arrow MORE: Big Brother house in lockdown after fans ‘throw tennis balls’ over security fence Arrow MORE: Big Brother set for ‘biggest row ever’ after Jedward crashes into the house TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.