Former MAFS expert Charlene Douglas shares post about 'distressing racist incident' she endured at a Holiday Inn and says it's now being investigated by the police

Former MAFS expert Charlene Douglas has shared an update after claiming she suffered 'humiliating' racism from staff while staying at a Holiday Inn.The TV personality, 43, said that she isn't looking for 'empty reassurance' and is refusing to 'simply move on from the matter or be quietly forgotten.'Charlene, who was on MAFS UK for five years before it was axed, was staying with her family at the Gun Wharf Quays branch in Portsmouth on Sunday.She claimed they received treatment like they were in '1950s Alabama' and has since reported the 'distressing' incident to the police.Sharing what has happened since the weekend, Charlene told her followers: 'Firstly, thank you to everyone who has reached out with messages of support, kindness and solidarity. We are incredibly grateful.'I wanted to provide a brief update following the distressing incident involving my family at Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth on Remembrance Sunday. Former MAFS expert Charlene Douglas has shared an update after claiming she suffered 'humiliating' racism from staff while staying at a Holiday Inn Sharing what has happened since the weekend, Charlene told her followers: 'Firstly, thank you to everyone who has reached out with messages of support, kindness and solidarity. We are incredibly grateful''Yesterday, we formally reported the incident to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. We have received confirmation that our report has been submitted and we are now awaiting direct contact from the police regarding the next steps' 'What happened to our family was deeply distressing, humiliating and unacceptable. We believe it deserves a thorough investigation, meaningful accountability and appropriate action''We will continue to speak openly about or experience, share factual updates where appropriate and pursue the available avenues until we are satisfied that our concerns have been properly addressed''Yesterday, we formally reported the incident to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. We have received confirmation that our report has been submitted and we are now awaiting direct contact from the police regarding the next steps.'A director at IHG has also been in contact with my sister, Deborah, as the company carries out its internal investigation. We acknowledge these developments and welcome the fact the matter is now being looked into.'However, we want to be absolutely clear, this is not something we are prepared to simply move on from or allow to be quietly forgotten. 'What happened to our family was deeply distressing, humiliating and unacceptable. We believe it deserves a thorough investigation, meaningful accountability and appropriate action. We are not looking for empty reassurance or gestures. We want to see that the seriousness of our experience is reflected in the response and actions that follow.'We will continue to speak openly about our experience, share factual updates where appropriate and pursue the available avenues until we are satisfied that our concerns have been properly addressed. We will allow the relevant investigations to take their course, but our determination to seek accountability remains unchanged.'Thank you for your support. Thank you again to everyone standing with us. Your support means more than you know.'On Monday, Charlene told fans she had contacted guest relations for the brand but claimed they were not taking it seriously as she detailed her 'humiliating experience'. Sharing a statement on both her main page and Instagram Story, Charlene wrote: 'Cannot believe the racism my family and I have just received from staff and guest at Holiday Inn Gun Wharf Quays (Portsmouth). On Monday, Charlene told fans she had contacted guest relations for the brand but claimed they were not taking it seriously as she detailed her 'humiliating experience' (stock image) Charlene told fans she had contacted guest relations for the brand but claimed they were not taking it seriously as she detailed her 'humiliating experience' Charlene has yet to specify what took place, but compared the situation to '1950s Alabama', while promising she would share more details in a video later on'Think 1950s Alabama - the words 'from your people' still resounding in my head! #holidayinnexpress @ihghotels.' Alongside the post, Charlene wrote: 'Racism at its core! Shocking! Contacted Guest Relations - Not taking it seriously at all! Awful, humiliating experience!''I will upload a full video explaining what happened shortly.'The Daily Mail has contacted Holiday Inn and Charlene for comment. A spokesperson for the Holiday Inn said: 'We are very sorry to hear about the experience reported by these guests. Discrimination has no place in our hotel and we take these concerns seriously. 'We are urgently looking into what happened, how the situation was handled, and are in contact with those involved. We are committed to ensuring everyone who stays with us is treated with dignity and respect.'MAFS UK was recently cancelled following an external review triggered by serious sexual assault and rape allegations raised in a BBC Panorama investigation. A recorded sixth series of the popular show, which sees couples take part in non-legally binding marriage ceremonies at their first meeting, will never be aired, bosses said.It follows an external review into the show after a BBC Panorama investigation earlier this year which saw several women make allegations of rape and non-consensual sexual activity during filming.Among them was Shona Manderson, 34, who said she had to have an abortion after her on-screen husband, Brad Skelly, took things 'too far' during sex and 'a boundary was crossed' when he ejaculated inside her without permission.Two other female participants alleged in the documentary that they had been raped. All the men are understood to deny the allegations against them. MAFS UK was recently cancelled following an external review triggered by serious sexual assault and rape allegations raised in a BBC Panorama investigation Shona Manderson, who has waived her anonymity, alleged that Bradley Skelly engaged in a non-consensual sex act while they filmed the Channel 4 show - he denies the claimIn June, a cast member from the show was arrested on suspicion of rape and released on bail. Previous series of the show were pulled from the channel's streaming service following the allegations, and production on series six was paused. The first part of the review by law firm Clyde & Co looked at whether welfare protocols for participants were sufficient at the time the claims were initially raised, drawing from 20 hours of footage and 31,172 documents.It found that the provision by Channel 4 and production firm CPL were in line with Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, but that there was room for improvement.Authors of the review also found 'a small number of instances in which the show's established protocols had not been fully applied' including when contributors 'contravened the Code of Conduct relating to prohibited substances'.In this instance, they were given a final warning, instead of being removed from the programme. The second half of the review was carried out by former BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey into current welfare provision, and ruled that, with 'enhancements' to existing welfare protocols, MAFS could continue to be produced.It added the show was considered by bosses to be 'high risk' but that welfare protocols were 'extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard'. Neither part examined the specific allegations of sexual misconduct. Channel 4's chief executive, Priya Dogra, has confirmed today MAFS UK will not return to screensMs Heggessey highlighted how aspects of the show can 'put pressure on contributors to be intimate' and filming with limited contact with friends and family can cause them to 'lose touch with reality, which can affect contributors' decision making'.She recommended changes including keeping couples in separate bedrooms on their wedding night and honeymoon, which should be changed to a 'getting to know you' phase, and removing 'Intimacy Week' and 'Partner Swap Week' from the show.MAFS should also remove couples from the show after one person chooses to leave, rather than force them to continue, she said – current rules mean that if only one person requests to leave, the couple stay for another week. Ms Heggessey also suggested having individual 'safe words' for participants, panic buttons, lockable en suite bedrooms and CCTV and sound recording that would be monitored around the clock.But Channel 4 said today that the show will be permanently axed.Chief Executive Priya Dogra is said to have ruled that the review's recommendations would 'entail a materially greater level of intervention, monitoring and supervision that would fundamentally alter the format and editorial proposition of the programme'.As a result, she 'decided that the right course was to bring MAFS UK on Channel 4 to an end'.Series six, which was still in production at the time of the allegations, will not be aired, and no further work on it will take place.Instead, the budget previously allocated to MAFS UK will be redistributed and put towards new programmes.Ms Manderson told Panorama that she got an abortion after Mr Skelly ejaculated inside her without her permission during filming.Waiving her anonymity, she described how she 'completely lost her light' during the process, and said that after the incident she went with a member of the welfare team to get the morning after pill.But she later discovered she was pregnant and made the difficult decision to get an abortion. Ms Manderson says she does not know for sure if the pregnancy was a result of the incident.Mr Skelly has denied any suggestion of sexual misconduct and allegations that he was 'controlling'. Shona Manderson (right) was one of three women to speak to Panorama, and said Brad Skelly (left) ejaculated inside her without consent, which he deniesA second woman alleged her on-screen husband raped her and subjected her to violent sex that often left her with bruises, despite her telling him to stop.When she tried to refuse sex, he is said to have told her 'You can't say no, you're my wife' before raping her.It is claimed he also told her that if she told anyone about his actions, he would throw acid over her.A third woman said she had been raped by her on-screen husband, but the episodes featuring her were aired anyway, despite her making both Channel 4 and CPL aware of what had happened. Responding to the axeing of MAFS UK from Channel 4 today, Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: 'Refuge welcomes Channel 4's decision to withdraw Married at First Sight following reports of sexual assault and rape from former contestants. We hope it sets a precedent for reality television producers to prioritise contestants' safety while actively challenging harmful behaviours.'Television shows featuring real relationships aren't simply a mode of entertainment – they shape cultural norms and influence millions of people. 'When unhealthy behaviours, including coercive control and domestic abuse, are given a public platform, it enables misogyny and abuse to persist, while putting contestants and viewers at serious risk of harm.'After the documentary was aired, the Met Police appealed for any victims of sex offences to come forward.Ms Dogra said: 'MAFS UK has been enjoyed by millions of viewers, made possible by the willingness of its contributors to embrace the social experiment at the heart of the show and the many talented people involved in its production. 'I am grateful to everyone at Channel 4 and CPL Productions who has worked on the show and want to thank them for their significant efforts to protect the welfare of contributors, something which was recognised in both reviews. 'Whilst the review praised the welfare protocols in place and made no findings that Channel 4 breached the Ofcom Code or that the format is inherently unsafe, I have to consider when is the right time for Channel 4 to move on from a format. 'The recommendations are eminently sensible and feasible, but considering their wholesale implementation provoked fundamental questions about the editorial proposition of a show that, I believe, has now run its course over ten years. 'Channel 4 has always thrived on reinvention and this is a moment to kickstart a new era of creative renewal, using the considerable budget to find the next generation of distinctive and disruptive British television. 'This review did not have the authority to adjudicate on the very serious allegations made by three women in the Panorama programme, but I would like to repeat that I am very sorry for the distress those women have clearly felt. 'I hope our actions – in swiftly commissioning the review and taking clear, decisive steps - demonstrate our commitment to the wellbeing of all contributors and our desire to relentlessly strengthen industry standards.'A spokesman for CPL said: 'CPL understands Channel 4's decision to bring Mafs to an end on the channel.'The independent reviews gave CPL the opportunity to discuss in depth the welfare processes already in place and that the Heggessey review found that 'the welfare protocols for Mafs UK were extensive, extremely thorough and of a high standard from which other productions in the industry have learnt.''CPL has always put contributor welfare at the heart of its programme making and will continue to do so.'CPL have worked closely with Channel 4 for many years and throughout the review process, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.'Do you have a story? Email elizabeth.haigh@dailymail.co.uk