ITV has removed a pro-Palestinian logo from an episode of Big Brother that could be seen on housemates’ T-shirts.
Contestant Ali Bromley wore a black T-shirt with an Israeli-shaped watermelon on it while in the garden of the Big Brother house on Tuesday night’s show.
watermelon symbol has been used to express solidarity with the Palestinians During the Israel-Gaza War.
The episode has been edited and ITV said the housemate told them she “didn’t know what the symbol meant” and “didn’t want to offend”.
After the episode aired, it was removed from ITVX and re-uploaded on Wednesday, with the watermelon symbol removed from Bromley’s T-shirt.
A spokesperson for Big Brother said they “do not allow any personal items that could be considered harmful inside the house”.
“We regret that the implications of this particular garment were not fully understood during our baggage check or before last night’s episode aired,” the broadcaster said.
“We apologize to any viewers who were offended by the broadcast and would like to reassure viewers that Big Brother is unaware of the meaning of the image.”
It added that the dress had now been removed from the house and the housemates “said they had no idea what it meant and did not wish to cause any harm or offense”.
Tuesday’s episode of Big Brother Nightly Live was also edited to remove footage of Bromley wearing a top.
More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Hamas attack on October 7, with about 1,200 killed and 251 taken hostage.
The symbol of the watermelon is synonymous with the pro-Palestinian movement, as its colors are the same as those on the Palestinian flag.
Following Tuesday’s incident, the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said it had lodged a complaint with Ofcom because of “a serious breach of broadcasting standards”.
The group said in a statement on River to ocean”.
The Palestinian Solidarity Movement and other activists disputed this, saying the slogan referred to “the rights of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice.”
