Big Brother Bullies

Ugh!! I don’t usually use this blog to write about entertainment, but anyone who’s talked to me the past few months knows I’ve been obsessed with the show Big Brother.

Tonight’s episode really bothered me, though, and I feel compelled to speak out about it.

I am 100% anti bullying. I don’t tolerate it on my social media, and I believe bullies are incredible cowards. That being said, I am disgusted with the way Big Brother is handling the bullying that’s going on in the house. This game is supposed to be filled with lies, deception, and manipulation — that’s how most of the contestants have won the $500,000 in the past — but to allow what is happening in the house to keep going on is really pitiful. I believe CBS is using what’s going on in the house to boost ratings, and the thing that really bugs me is that it’s the perfect opportunity to address the bullying epidemic that sweeps every corner of the Internet. Big Brother reaches hundreds of thousands of people, and many of those watching are teenagers and young adults.

When I watch reality shows I always try to remember that the cast on them are real people with normal jobs, and aren’t used to being in the spotlight, so I try to cut them some slack. That being said, I absolutely cannot believe what I’ve seen this season.

The definition of “bully” is,

“A blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.”

Jessica isn’t small or weak, but she sure is on the outside right now. I honestly don’t understand how an adult human being can feel good about themselves when they gang up on someone who is already isolated and nonthreatening.

The thing people don’t seem to remember is that they’re being taped 24/7, and their friends, family, and employers can see everything play out on live television. I wish one of the contestants would use this incredible platform to address the bullying that’s going on in the house and explain to others that this kind of behavior is absolutely not okay. Ever. Even in a game show when you’re playing for half a million dollars.

Big Brother, I wish I could write you a letter and tell you how wrong it is to keep airing this and acting like this behavior is acceptable. By not stepping in, you are taking an action and allowing people to live in an incredibly hostile and mean-spirted environment. I believe this is a great time to address the behavior in the house, and bring in someone to speak to the adults on the show about how they should conduct themselves with their fellow competitors.

At the end of the day, for all contestants but one, this will end up being just a game, and giving up your character for 500K still isn’t worth it in my opinion. I’ll be interested to hear how these contestants feel about their behavior after they leave the house and think about the way they treated others, and it saddens me that this isn’t being used as a teachable moment. I honestly think some of the people on the show don’t quite realize how cruel they are being — or even that they’re witnessing something that should be stopped — and ironically many of them will come back to some pretty nasty comments on their social media accounts because of the nasty things they’ve said or done. I disagree with the way Internet trolls are approaching the situation as well, and I hope something is done soon to bring more awareness to the way each and every human being deserves to be treated.

End Rant.