Every single Bigg Boss episode that the viewers get to watch is edited out of a day (or more) long footage. Basically, whatever content finally makes it to the TV has been consciously selected by the makers and thus, qualifies as “entertainment” for them. This is exactly why we are of the belief that they deserve all the calling out and backlash that comes their way each time things go horribly wrong in an episode. And as much as they might want to lay the blame on the contestants, this is actually a result of the creative decisions they take, the kind of tasks they come up with, and the subsequent edits that they make. Something similar is happening right now after the recent eviction that has resulted in a social media commotion.
This is an intense week in the Bigg Boss 15 house because it has been announced that a “clean up” is underway. And this will claim multiple contestants from the bottom six. Well, the round of random eliminations started earlier this week with Simba Nagpal’s shocking eviction. However, more than the fact that Simba has left that show so unceremoniously, it is the way he has been sent home that is irking the netizens right now. Bigg Boss promos suggest that the Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki actor was sent out of the house in a coffin and the viewers are finding it downright unpalatable.
That said this is definitely not the first time that Bigg Boss makers have gone absolutely tone-deaf just for the sake of TRP. Here are five times that BB makers locked their humanity in a box and threw away the keys in an oblivious corner while making episode edits:
The Recent Eviciton
The past year-and-a-half have been rough on all of us. From the pictures of overcrowded crematoriums to personal loss, we have all been through so much. These are tough times and TV serves as a welcome escape. Of course, it is alarming when TV makers turn a blind eye to our collective grief and the recent Bigg Boss eviction is an example of the same.
After watching the promo of the eviction task, someone has written on Twitter: “Coffin?!! Seriously?!! Do you even know what is carried in the coffin ???. Corpse!!! I’m totally against using Coffin for the entertainment’s sake!!” Another one has added, “what is the need of using coffin here this is not a good sign dead people are carried away in coffins please this is offensive.”
Yes, this is not the first time that Bigg Boss makers have used a coffin in a task. However, given the present circumstances, the viewers can not be blamed for reacting. Not only showing a coffin on TV can be a triggering for so many but it also makes a mockery of all the lives that have been lost due to the pandemic.
Afsana Khan’s Breakdown
Bigg Boss makers have constantly failed to understand that someone’s mental health crisis is not content. This season has not been any different and telecasting Afsana Khan’s breakdown on prime time TV was a new low even by Bigg Boss standards. But this is definitely not the first time that a contestant has had a panic attack or mental health crisis in the show and TBH, it says a lot about what people have to endure inside the Bigg Boss house.
Comparing Past Traumas
Last season, Bigg Boss makers had to face flak from the audience for coming up with one of the most insensitive tasks to date. In a very problematic sequence, the housemates were literally asked to reveal their past traumas to win a special immunity stone. The worst part was that they were all made to compare their pains and traumas and decide who had it worse and thus deserved the stone. It was highly insensitive, to say the least, and one can only imagine how triggered it might have left some of the viewers with similar pasts and traumas.
Irresponsible & Triggering Discussions On Sexuality
In a country that is still struggling with its understanding of genders, Bigg Boss sure is playing its part in making the situation worse. In seasons 11, 12, and13, Vikas Gupta had to face a lot of homophobia. In season 12, Sreesanth used the word “gay” like a slur to insult Rohit Suchanti and in the current season, Rajiv Adatia is facing something similar. Every time something like this happens in the house, the makers make it a point to telecast it. While sometimes the homophobia and transphobia get called out in the weekend episodes, most of the time it is just used as a means of spiking TRPs. If you were to ask us, there should be strict rules for such problematic behaviour and they should be explicitly mentioned in the contestants’ contracts.
Devoleena Bhattacharjee’s #MeToo Threats
Back in season 13, Devoleena Bhattacharjee left everyone shocked after she threatened to make false #MeToo allegations on Siddharth Shukla during a task. It was back when the movement was finding its impetus in the country and using it so casually in the episode definitely impacted the conversation and opened Pandora’s box for women who actually had #MeToo stories of their own.
Well, these are but a few of the examples when Bigg Boss went horribly wrong with their editing choices and while we get that the reality show thrives on controversy, some lines should never be crossed. Here’s hoping that the Bigg Boss makers take responsibility for the same and apologise to the viewers for the entire coffin fiasco. That’s the least that they can do right now.
Featured Image: Voot
