Big Brother Mzansi: Could Biggie Have Done More to Punish Ash-Ley and Bonni Bee for Trivialising Kay B’s Sexual Violation?
Housemates Ash-ley Ogle and Bonni Bee were dealt with by Big Brother following their misconduct, specifically being disciplined for weaponising fellow player Kay B’s past experience with sexual assault. After mounting pressure from the court of public opinion and stakeholders issues their own statements condemning the actions of Ogle and Bee, Biggie gave the pair one strike each, punishment, and a stern talking-to in their respective diary sessions. However, were Biggie’s measures strong enough?
Ash-ley Ogle, the self-proclaimed “Maddie”, has established herself in the house as a straightshooter and a fierce competitor, while also winning the hearts of those shipping her with Sweet Guluva. Bonni on the other hand has made a name for herself with her audacious attitude. In the grand scheme of things, the contestants have their own strong fandoms, with everything they do influencing those supporting them, thus enabling their actions and behaviours.
Watch Big Brother issuing strikes to Ogle and Bee:
It is not the first time that the issue of trivialising sexual assault found its way into the Big Brother house. Last season, housemates Yolanda and Bravo B were caught on the wrong side of things for their remarks and subsequently disqualified, with the former being ejected for making sordid remarks of molesting another housemate while the latter was booted for making comments which threatened the safety of another housemate. While the Ash-ley and Bonni situation differs in that the comments didn’t threaten to harm Kay B directly, they did cause psychological trauma and mental strain on her as she was seen beside herself and in tears.
Biggie’s decision to mete out his verdict the way he did may have stirred mixed feelings in the hearts of viewers and followers of Big Brother, but the lingering truth is that the punishment could’ve been harsher, not only due to the severity of re-traumatising a contestant by talking down at them and minimising their experience but also because Big Brother is a platform of influence and possesses an influential air that has birthed even some of today’s most prominent influencers and TV personalities.
Ash-ley went on apologise for her actions, while Bonni B remained rather unremorseful over her actions. Whether an apology was offered or not, Kay B still has to wake up and force herself to co-exist with the very same people she knows deep down despise her for being violated. And that’s the cold reality seemingly plastered over.
Bringing up the issue of sexual violation and rape is not an “attention-seeking” stunt, as Ash-ley theorised. It’s not a strategy to win a game. South Africa is a country in a long-standing war against Gender-Based Violence and crimes directed at women. And as a show watched by millions, viewers identify with contestants they love and agree with, sometimes to the point of being apologists. And that is the danger of being lenient. Two housemates awakened a trauma living in another housemates mind and turned it into a gossip session of active trash-talking, and all they got was a warning and a chance to still vie for the R2 million grand prize?
Big Brother’s Official Statement | SUPPLIED
What kind of message is this communicating? People should be given chances to redeem themselves, granted. That’s what Bonni and Ash-ley got – lifelines. However, for a platform like Big Brother, stricter measures ought to be taken for the sake of the country, which is already battling with sexual violance, particularly against women.
More could’ve been done for Kay B, because doing more for her would’ve been a definitive statement aimed at viewers and future housemates: rape is never something to be taken lightly and treated as a form of entertainment, and that such behaviour is inexcusable – even from so-called “faves” and girls walking around with “pretty privilege” passes.