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LONDON - Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty stormed to victory on Britain's Celebrity Big Brother today after her treatment on the television show sparked fears of racist bullying that escalated into an international row.
Shetty, whose victory will be seen as a triumph for racial equality in Britain and India, beat 13 other contestants, including those who were accused of tormenting her.
But the 31-year-old was quick to play down allegations that she had been the victim of racial abuse on the show, unaware the spat had already drawn tens of thousands of complaints, dominated headlines and even prompted a sponsor to pull out.
"Things happen and people make mistakes and we are all human beings and we are all fallible," said Shetty after emerging victorious from the specially-designed Big Brother House, where she had been cooped up for 26 days under 24-hour surveillance.
"I know one thing for sure, Jade really didn't mean to be racist," she said, referring to shamed television star Jade Goody who was a central figure in the furore.
"I really don't want to leave England putting anyone in trouble," added Shetty in an interview on Channel 4, which broadcasts the controversial series.
But her comments may come too late to save the careers of Goody as well as two other former housemates - model Danielle Lloyd and singer Jo O'Meara - who have been vilified in newspapers following their comments about Shetty.
The A-list Indian star was called a "dog" on the programme. Housemates refused to learn her name, referred to her as "the Indian" and "Poppadom", and Lloyd said: "She should f*** off home. She can't even speak English."
Asked about her behaviour, Lloyd, who emerged earlier on Sunday evening from the television set, said: "I feel terrible."
She added: "I never thought we were being racist at all."
Internet chatrooms have been abuzz with debate about whether what was said constituted racism and to what extent Goody and her allies reflected prejudices in society at large.
In a sign of the public outrage, Lloyd and O'Meara - who was evicted from the show on Friday night - were both met with jeers and boos by crowds waiting outside, while Shetty emerged to cheers, screams and a hail of fireworks.
"Thank you," the actress, dressed in a flowing red-coloured shirt and jeans, shouted as she waved to her fans.
Shetty won 63 per cent of the public vote in a final showdown against five remaining contestants.
US singer Jermaine Jackson, older brother of Michael Jackson, came second followed by actor Dirk Benedict, who starred in the 1980s television series The A-Team.
Singer Ian Watkins was in fourth place, followed by Lloyd and Goody's boyfriend Jack Tweed.
The other contestants, including Goody, were either voted out or walked off the show over the past few weeks.
- REUTERS
