Big Brother Episode Pulled Over Controversial T-Shirt: ‘Caused Significant Distress’
An episode of Big Brother was removed from the ITV Hub after a housemate wore a t-shirt that sparked mixed reactions among viewers. Ali Bromley, a forensic psychologist and contestant on the show, wore a t-shirt featuring a map of Palestine and Israel shaped as a watermelon, a design that left viewers divided, via the Sun.
ITV has not provided an official explanation for pulling the episode, but in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), the broadcaster said it was removed “due to compliance reasons.” ITV assured viewers the episode would be re-edited and available later that same day. The watermelon has long been a symbol of Palestinian resistance, with its colors mirroring the Palestinian flag, and is frequently used to show solidarity with Palestinians, both online and in public spaces.
The symbolism of the watermelon dates back to the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, when it became illegal to display the Palestinian flag in Israel. Although this ban was lifted after the 1993 Oslo Accords, Israel’s current National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, recently ordered the removal of Palestinian flags from public spaces.
Ali, who has previously worn shirts promoting social causes, including one that read “Trans rights are human rights,” received both praise and criticism for wearing the watermelon t-shirt. Some viewers supported her for showing solidarity with Palestine, while others, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism, voiced concerns. The group stated that the t-shirt’s imagery “caused significant distress among the British Jewish community” and filed a complaint with Ofcom. They questioned how such a shirt was allowed to be broadcast on national television, calling it “a serious violation of broadcasting standards.”
Despite the controversy, many viewers defended Ali. One user wrote, “Ali should be applauded for these t-shirts… Honestly queen s**t right there.” Another added, “I love how she’s brought in both pro-Palestine and pro-trans shirts, I just love this woman actually.” Meanwhile, others speculated about ITV’s decision to pull the episode, with one viewer tweeting, “I hope this has nothing to do with Ali’s pro-Palestine t-shirt… Big Brother is a social experiment, all walks of life with different views and opinions.”
ITV has yet to confirm the exact reason for the episode’s removal, but in response to a viewer inquiry, they reiterated that the episode would be made available after re-editing. The broadcaster tweeted, “We apologise for the inconvenience… but the wait will be worth it.”