Omar El Mayer’s 22,499 Complaints Put Big Brother Under Pressure

The scale of the reaction to Omar El Mayer’s treatment of Rhianna has put Big Brother’s handling of the relationship under close scrutiny. Episodes broadcast from October 19 to 22 drew 22,499 complaints to Ofcom, a total reported as a record for civilian Big Brother and the third-highest figure across the franchise.

The reported total follows several uncomfortable exchanges between Omar, 21, and Rhianna, also 21, who had formed a romantic relationship in the house. In the October 19 episode, viewers saw Omar tell her “don’t cry”, “don’t look away from me” and “sort yourself out” as she became visibly upset. The scenes prompted viewers to accuse him of controlling and emotionally abusive behaviour, and some called for him to leave the programme.

The figure comes from Ofcom’s latest published data: episodes shown between October 19 and 22 received 22,499 complaints combined. That distinction matters. The total covers those episodes, and Metro reports that it has asked Ofcom to confirm the historical comparison and establish how many complaints specifically concerned Omar’s conduct. A complaint total on its own does not establish that a programme breached broadcasting rules, and Ofcom has not publicly said whether it will investigate.

The public response extended beyond viewer complaints. Former Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough called for Omar to be removed “with immediate effect”, while Love Island star Toni Laites said the couple’s interactions had “triggered” her. Women’s Aid also raised concerns about what audiences might take from the scenes. Veronica Oakeshott, the charity’s head of external affairs, said: “Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that impacts every element of a survivor’s life.” She added that it was worrying to see such behaviour given a platform on a popular programme.

Big Brother addressed Omar in the Diary Room after the backlash. The programme told him that some of his language and behaviour needed discussion, saying he appeared to dismiss housemates’ feelings and warning that his words could cause offence both in the house and among viewers.

Omar rejected that assessment. “I’ve just never dismissed a housemate’s feelings in all honesty,” he said, adding that he had “done nothing but look out for” Rhianna. He said he had tried to accommodate and reassure her. The exchange sharpened the dispute: viewers who felt the scenes showed him brushing aside Rhianna’s distress also questioned whether he understood the criticism directed at him.

Online criticism focused in part on the gap between the warning and Omar’s response. One viewer wrote on X: “BB: You’ve been dismissing your Housemate’s feelings. Omar: immediately dismisses the issue.” Another called the intervention an “abysmal warning”; other viewers asked why the programme had not issued a formal warning. Those comments reflect dissatisfaction with the on-screen response, though the source gives no further detail about what action viewers wanted producers to take.

ITV has previously said housemates receive “respect and inclusion training” before entering the house, and that welfare and safeguarding are prioritised throughout production. Rhianna’s sister was also reportedly shown urging her to distance herself from Omar during the Friends and Family episode. The pair briefly separated, then rekindled their romance.

The franchise comparisons put the current total in sharper relief. According to The Sun, 22,499 complaints would place Omar third across Big Brother, behind two Celebrity Big Brother controversies. Roxanne Pallett drew thousands of complaints in 2018 after falsely accusing Ryan Thomas of deliberately punching her. In 2007, the late Jade Goody became embroiled in an international racism scandal involving Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, which prompted more than 45,000 complaints.

For now, the published total describes the response to a set of episodes, while the specific number tied to Omar’s behaviour remains unconfirmed. The next measure of the programme’s handling will be whether Ofcom takes the matter further and how producers respond to the concerns raised on screen and by viewers. Big Brother airs on ITV2 at 9pm Sunday through Thursday.