'Big Brother' Reality Show Housemate Raped on Live TV
On Tuesday, police confirmed they began an investigation into whether or not a contestant on Brazil's version of the “Big Brother” reality show was raped on live television.
Police have already searched the studios in Rio de Janeiro where the popular show is being filmed, Mail Online reported.
On Sunday, viewers tuned in to the late night show to witness contestant Daniel Echaniz, 31, seemingly force himself onto Monique Amin, 23, who was unconscious after a night of drinking and partying. The shocking assault was captured on night cameras.
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When Amin was asked about the incident the next morning in the diary room, she did not appear to realize what had happened.
Police officers that interviewed Amin for three hours following the uproar of the incident, then took her for a rape examination, according to Mail Online. They then told the Globo channel, which airs the show, to either stop broadcasting it or eliminate Echaniz.
“Since Sunday morning, the board had been evaluating the behavior of Daniel, who is suspected of having infringed the rules of the program. Big Brother examined his behavior without jumping to conclusions and with the utmost care. The images showed a breach of the rules of the program,” said the show's presenter, Pedro Bial, in a statement explaining the show’s decision to remove Echaniz.
“After careful evaluation, the direction of the program found that the behavior of the contestant on the night of the party was seriously inadequate,” Bial added.
Endemol, a production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, is known to encourage wild behavior from its shows contestants. The company refused to comment on the horrific scandal to Mail Online.
“Big Brother Brasil” is in its 12th series and is watched by an average of eight million people.
