Big Brother's Omar is accused of 'gaslighting producers' after they called out his 'controlling' behaviour towards Rhianna as series becomes most complained about in ITV history

Big Brother contestant Omar has been accused of 'gaslighting producers' after they reprimanded him for his 'controlling behaviour' towards his girlfriend Rhianna.

Omar was called to the diary room to be warned about his behaviour but he told producers he has 'only ever looked out for and cared for Rhianna'.

This came despite the fact one episode where he showed several 'worrying red flags' in their toxic romance has now received more than 7,000 Ofcom complaints.

The series has become the most complained about in ITV history as over 8,000 people highlighted problematic scenes in the show. 

Alongside the Ofcom complaints, Women's Aid called for Omar to be removed from the house after concerning scenes between him and Rhianna aired.

Omar's behaviour has included scolding Rhianna for speaking about their fallout to other housemates, using worrying language such as 'don't talk about me', 'don't cry', 'don't look away from me', 'sort yourself out' and 'fix up'.

Once in the Diary Room, Big Brother told Omar: 'Omar, Big Brother wants to speak to you about some of your language and behaviour in the house.  Big Brother wants to bring to your attention that at times, it appears that you are dismissing your fellow housemates' feelings and experiences, and not acknowledging the impact such behaviour could have on your fellow housemates and the viewing public.'

'Some of your language used on more than one occasion and the behaviour you have exhibited could cause offense to your fellow housemates or the viewing public.'

Omar responded: 'I fully understand. Just, I've never dismissed a housemate's feelings, in all honesty. If I felt like a housemate was feeling something towards me which was incorrect, I would say it was incorrect.'

'Not necessarily dismiss it, or tell them they don't deserve a feeling and they don't deserve to feel like that.'

He added: 'Let's be honest here. We're not talking about housemates, we're talking about my conversations with me and Rhianna. Ive done nothing but look out for her. I've done nothing but try to accommodate her and be there for her and care for her.'

'At the end of the day, I didn't walk in with any bad intentions or any malice and I didn't attempt to exercise anything malicious towards anyone. Like I said, I've acknowledged my housemate's feelings.'

Big Brother then replied: 'Omar, you must always be mindful of the impact your language and behaviour can have on others.'

After the episode aired on Wednesday, viewers revealed they found it uncomfortable viewing and said it felt like Omar was 'trying to coercive control Big Brother'.

Fans also noted that Omar immediately asked Rhianna if she felt like he had been controlling her, but that was not shown in the Diary Room scene.

They said: 'From Omar's reaction it's VERY clear that Big Brother clearly said ALOT more to him than was aired. The fact "controlled" came out of his mouth means that came from somewhere.

'Oh my days! Omar is seriously turning this around and playing the victim now! This guy takes the mick! Who does he think that he is? "You can take a breath if you want". Yet he doesn't control her? Wow.' 

'Omar having that conversation after being called to the diary room is just more control and manipulation. He had zero intention of doing anything like that, and is doing so to show he's the victim.';

'Big Brother spoke to Omar about his language and behaviour and the little boy still cannot take accountability there's no helping him.';

'Wtf is actually going on? Omar doesn't even believe a word he's saying, this is actually mental he's been forced by Big Brother to do this weird apology. Like they are both genuinely acting like they are at gun point denying everything.';

'I hope Big Brother had a longer talk with Omar cause the way he immediately denied it is a problem'; '7000 Ofcom complaints and a statement from Women's Aid, but all Omar gets is a polite word?';

'Omar approaching this with "you're allowed to feel that! don't worry". But the first time is was "don't cry. Don't say that. Your feelings aren't fact" and calling her a "dumb little girl" and "b****d".;

'Mind you, Rhianna is being controlled right now. See how Omar told her how she should feel by starting with those heavy questions, rather than either apologising for his behaviour or asking how she feels. He knew she'd feel too embarrassed to admit to controlled.';

'I don't understand what the producers have against reprimanding Omar for exactly what he's doing instead of skirting around it. Anyone else notice that BB didn't mention the word control but Omar seemed to come to that conclusion on his own.'

After his interaction with Big Brother, Omar went to find Rhianna to talk about what he had been accused of.

He asked her: 'If it's okay with you I want to speak about things. Alright, come. We'll talk in the snug.'

Omar then said: 'So this is gonna be a very, very, very difficult conversation but I'm gonna unpack a lot of things. I just wanna pose you with the question: have I ever controlled you in any way? Or limited you in any way?'

Rhianna responded: 'The word controlled is crazy. You haven't and I don't feel that way. I am my own person, no one can control me, just like no one can control you. I don't feel controlled by you, and if I didn't then I wouldn't care enough to even speak to you.'

He said: 'That whole thing outside and you like venting to Cat, Twinks and Harry and that, that's OK. There's nothing wrong with that at all. For me, I just go upset because I don't really talk to Cat and Twinks and it made me a bit upset.'

'I was like, now they're just gonna see me in a bad way. It is what it is at the end of the day. It's just I'm not mad at you at all about that because I vented as well. Like I was talking about you to Lynx. I was talking baout you to Yasmin. I did the same thing.'

Rhianna then said: 'I just started feeling like I've done something wrong, and then on top of that...'

Omar argued: 'I never once said you done something wrong... '

Rhianna replied: 'I know that, but that's just how I felt.

Omar said: 'And that's OK. You're allowed to feel how you want to feel.'

She responded: 'On top of that I started overthinking everything and then it's all just caught up to me now.' 

At the end of the conversation Omar then said: 'Sorry if for whatever reason I have made you feel upset,' as she responded: 'I don't like arguing, I don't like bickering. I don't like these conversations, I don't want them to be had... So I will come and tell you if I don't like what you're doing.'

Omar and Rhianna have known each other for six weeks after meeting in the house and quickly claimed to be in love. 

However, Omar's behaviour towards his girlfriend has caused an outcry from the public and it has already become one of the most complained-about reality TV moments ever.

There were mounting calls for ITV to intervene and boot him off the show and charity Women's Aid has issued a statement calling his behaviour 'worrying'.

After the episode aired some viewers were disappointed with the warning and said that Big Brother didn't go far enough.

They penned on X: 'It was too vague, they should have given specific examples so his mind couldn't just shut down the conversation by saying he hadn't done it.',

'They needed to give explicit examples of what he's said & ask him to explain.',

'Should have been AUTOMATICALLY put up for eviction this Week!'

In just one day, Big Brother received 7,138 Ofcom complaints relating to Omar's treatment of Rhianna, making it one of the top ten most complained-about moments.

It is also the third highest number of complaints for a single incident in Big Brother history, following Jade Goody's racism row and Roxanne Pallett's punch-gate.

During Tuesday night's episode, it was revealed that Catrin, Harry, Sam and Twinks were the final four housemates on the podium and will face this Friday's live eviction.

The episode saw him snapping at Rhianna in front of the rest of the house ahead of nominations, telling them 'she's f***ed me off today!'

He said: 'I haven't made her cry, so don't walk around saying I've made you cry, then I have housemates come up to me saying I'm horrible.

'She's miserable anyway, she's immature. Stop being a weirdo, I did not make you cry!'

Rhianna said: 'You did make me cry!'

To which Omar replied: 'Was I abusive? Did I scream at you? Did I hit you? So don't lie!

'Even when you're wrong you convince yourself you're right! Zero accountability – maximum immaturity!'

The public slammed the housemates for not voting for Omar, as they took to X to share their thoughts.

They fumed: 'Omar with the AUDACITY to call Rhianna immature when he acts like that and sulks all day like a petulant childdddd.'

'I have NEVER been so p*ssed off with nominations Put me off Yas. Don't want her to win anymore and Rhianna is a SNAKE Oh and get Omar, Phillip and Frankie out VILE.. and yes there is a hierarchy.'

'Another eviction to not put omar up ugh bb needs to tell rhianna and omar that sooner or later they are both going have to vote for each other.'

Omar's behaviour has even been branded 'coercive and abusive' by Women's Aid.

Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs said: 'The nature of abuse means that it often begins with 'red flag' coercive and controlling behaviours like isolating you from friends or repeatedly putting you down, before escalating into other forms of abuse. 

'Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that impacts every element of a survivor's life.

'It's worrying to see behaviours like this being given a platform in popular media like Big Brother. We've been contacted by many viewers who have expressed concern.

'Not only does Big Brother risk minimising survivors' experiences, it also risks presenting abuse as a form of entertainment. 

'We must do better to call out and reject abuse as soon as we see it, so women and children can learn the signs and themselves feel confident in speaking up and seeking safety.

'Producers should understand their responsibility to keep contestants emotionally and physically safe. 

'The women in these programmes are real people and need real support.

'We continue to urge television companies such as ITV to engage with experts like Women's Aid to understand the nature of abuse and how they can do better to protect contestants. We would welcome a discussion with the Big Brother team.'

A Big Brother spokesman said: 'All Housemates receive Respect and Inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the Big Brother Senior team to prepare them for living in the House and to set out Big Brother's expectations for appropriate behaviour and language. 

'Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and any instances of inappropriate behaviour are responded to appropriately. 

'Welfare and safeguarding are prioritised throughout the production, with a dedicated welfare team available to support Housemates before, during and after their time in the House.'