Race-row Shetty changes mind
2007-01-19 11:48
London - Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty said she had spoken in the heat of the moment when alleging that comments by a fellow Celebrity Big Brother housemate Jade Goody were racially motivated.
The treatment meted out to the 31-year-old actress has sparked a diplomatic incident, with expressions of concern from the British and Indian governments and effigies being burnt on the streets of India.
On Wednesday, Shetty had told a fellow housemate that she believed she was the victim of racism.
But, in a clip from Thursday evening's show, released by broadcaster Channel Four, she said she had changed her mind.
'Definitely not racial'
"I take that back. I thought it was because everybody was having an argument with me ... I don't think that is true. People say things in a fit of anger," she said.
"I don't feel there was any racial discrimination happening from Jade's end ... I think there are a lot of insecurities from her end, but it's definitely not racial," she added.
The number of formal protests received by British television regulators and broadcaster Channel Four rose to 30 000, and the show's main sponsor announced on Thursday it was suspending its backing for the programme.