[full]Violence once again hit the version of Big Brother produced in South Africa which saw a contestant thrown out of the reality show after slapping a woman.
Mbali Zulu (26) was expelled on Saturday from Big Brother Mzansi after he slapped the seated contestant Iris Miya in the face, then moved to toweringly stand over her, and grabbed her head. Another female contestant had to intervene and push him away.
Zulu, a marketing coordinator from Soweto who has a three year old daughter and who said he “wanted to influence as many young people as he can” before he entered the video camera filled house, clashed with Miya in what the pay-TV broadcaster describes as “inappropriate physical action”.
Big Brother Mzansi, produced by Endemol South Africa, is supplied by pay-TV broadcaster M-Net to MultiChoice’s DStv.
The latest contestant ejected from the show for violent behaviour follows incidents in previous seasons of Big Brother Africa – also produced by Endemol SA and also filmed in Johannesburg.
In 2010 Hannington Kuteesa was expelled from Big Brother Africa after fighting with a female contestant. In 2013 another contestant, Nando, was given the boot from Big Brother Africa.
The violent altercation in Big Brother Mzansi is the second incident within weeks impacting one of the M-Net TV channels the pay-TV broadcaster is providing to DStv.
Vuzu, one of the other general local entertainment TV channels provided to DStv cancelled the already commissioned reality show Raising the Bar with the flamboyant choreographer and socialite Somizi Mhlongo, following violent fighting captured on film.
‘Why do you slap me?’
On Saturday the Mzansi Magic TV channel which also shows Big Brother Mzansi content – besides two dedicated Big Brother Mzansi channels provided to DStv – said that Zulu has been “disqualified” for “breaking the rule strictly prohibiting violence”.
According to a statement Endemol South Africa and the pay-TV broadcaster will “continue to take action against any violation of the game’s rules”.
“Why do you slap me?! Why do you slap me?!” Miya screamed as fellow female contestant Jenayne Jenneker jumped up from the couch she was laying on and tried to push Zulu off, and away from Miya during the shocking incident.
“Dont touch her like that!” said Jenneker rushing to Miya’s defence. “How can you do that to her? No, fuck off! Don’t touch her! Don’t touch her like that! Why do you touch her face like that?”
“Because I can,” said Zulu.
“No you can’t you don’t have the right. You don’t fucking touch her like that!” said Jenneker.
“You’re not involved!” said Zulu.
“I am involved because you did it in front of me!” said Jenneker.
– Channel24[/full]