UK's ITV takes down Big Brother episode over pro-Palestine t-shirt

ITV's Big Brother has sparked uproar among viewers after the reality TV show was caught editing out a contestant's t-shirt featuring a pro-Palestine watermelon symbol.

In the episode, 38-year-old housemate Ali Bromley was seen wearing the Freedom Melon Tee, designed by ethical clothing brand Wear the Peace, which donates profits to the charity Pious Projects of America to aid Palestinians in Gaza.

The symbol, coloured like the Palestinian flag, has become associated with the pro-Palestine movement amid Israel's ongoing onslaught, which has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza since October 2023.

The back of the T-shirt states: "100% of profits donated to Pious Projects for aid to humans in Gaza."

The episode led the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) group to complain to TV regulator Ofcom over the "great distress" the symbol allegedly had on the Jewish community.

The episode was taken down and re-uploaded on British broadcaster ITV's streaming service ITVX, with the watermelon symbol edited out.

Many took to social media platform X to share their discontent with the move, condemning it as an act of censorship and calling for accountability from the show's producers.  

"I am so close to stopping watching Big Brother after they removed Ali’s watermelon from her shirt," one X user said. 

Others described the edit as "tone-deaf", with some planning to report it to British media watchdog Ofcom. 

Concerns were raised about Big Brother UK's stance, particularly given the casting of 23-year-old Khaled, who is of Palestinian and Lebanese descent.

Some argued that the show had discredited its only Arab and Palestinian members by editing out the watermelon symbol.

"YOU put a part-Palestinian housemate in there, and now you are EDITING the show to censor pro-Palestinian content," a user wrote on X.  

"This goes against rules of impartiality and unfair editing."

Big Brother UK issued a statement following the backlash, writing: "All housemate items are checked by our production team before they go into the Big Brother House to ensure they comply with the rules and requirements."

"We regret that the implications of this particular item of clothing were not fully understood during our bag checks or prior to the broadcast of last night's show."

The New Arab has reached out to ITV for comment.