Big Brother Rape Coverup

Via Jill: There is a media report that Big Brother contestant Richard Bezuidenhout raped drunk castmate Ofunneka Molokwu.

The incident, broadcast live by a pay-TV conglomerate across Africa, has prompted denunciations from the continent's great and good. Viewers have flooded newspapers and internet message boards with emails expressing undiluted outrage.

Many of the emails contain photo clips from the programme that appear to show Richard Bezuidenhout (left), a 24-year-old film student from Tanzania, assaulting Ofunneka Molokwu, a 29-year-old medical assistant from Nigeria.

M-Net has the gall to say it is not rape if Molokwu is conscious.

"There is no indication that she was unconscious at the time," said Joseph Hundah, an executive at M-Net.

Bezuidenhout penetrated Molokwu with his fingers. He continued even after another female cast member asked him to stopped. The producers called paramedics and cut the live feed. That sounds like rape to me.

The assault was aired. Millions of viewers saw the incident. Bezuidenhout defended himself by saying, "Well, this is Africa." That's true. If the assault happened in America he would be in serious trouble. Bezuidenhout believes (maybe rightfully) that South Africa will give him a free get-out-of-jail ticket.

Just because a woman is intoxicated does not give a man the right to violate her. It also says much about how much Big Brother cares about the safety of the contestants. Molokwu was vomiting earlier in the day. Big Brother doesn't seem to be bothered by on-air rape or binge drinking.

I hate reality television. This news story just reaffirms my longheld opinion.