Viewers of Channel 4′s Jade Goody documentary were left feeling heartbroken and horrified over how the Indian version of Big Brother handled her cancer diagnosis.
The late reality star received news she had cervical cancer while appearing on the show in August 2008.
Scenes revealing how she was told and the subsequent fall out aired as part of the documentary looking back at Jade’s life 10 years on from her death.On Wednesday night,
UK viewers saw how Jade was called to the Diary Room where she received a phone call from her doctors to inform her of the diagnosis, with commentary from various talking heads revealing she was not aware the cameras were still on.
Footage of her sobbing as she told her housemates of the news also aired, as a TV executive claimed Indian producers had tried to prevent her from leaving the house to return to the UK.
The scenes proved to be a heartbreaking watch, with viewers outraged at how Jade’s diagnosis was exploited for the show...OMG. After watching the final part of Jade Goody program on Channel 4 and is disgusted how Indian Big Brother still filmed Jade's diagnosis of Cervical cancer in the Diary Room and kept going. It should of been private and Jade comes out with it on her own #jadegoody— Stephi L Mason (@AutisticStephi) August 22, 2019I had forgotten Jade was on Big Brother
India when she found out she had cancer.Terrible they showed that footage and didnt immediately take her out of the house #JadeGoody— Emma (@paper_dolls92) August 21, 2019Actually heartbreaking watching the final episode of the jade goody story! Sickening that the producers of the indian Big brother filmed her being told she had cervical cancer plus kept her in the house and didn’t allow her to leave straight away! Disgusting #JadeGoody— Carla Mitchell (@dizzymitchell) August 21, 2019How the hell did they tell Jade Goody she had cancer in Indian Big Brother whilst filming it? So bad #JadeGoody— Oscar Knebel (@oscarknebel) August 21, 2019I’m so shocked that they told Jade Goody she had cervical cancer whilst she was appearing on Indian big brother and aired it! Absolutely disgusting way to tell someone something so personal 😐 #jadegoody— ema 🌙 (@emzykeri_) August 21, 2019I had a vague memory that they told Jade Goody she had cancer while she was on Big Brother India. But then I must have told myself over time that I misremembered. No no, they told her, she had cancer, in the mother fucking diary room— Daniel Con Kearney (@DanielKearney) August 21, 2019Can’t believe Jade Goody was told she had cancer on Indian big brother live on air. Absolutely shameful.— 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝙵𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎 (@GlasgowQueen) August 21, 2019What the fuck, Jade was told she had cancer over the phone while she was in Big Brother in India.That's fucking awful.— Rachele 🍷 (@_Rachele_) August 21, 2019You forget how appallingly the media treated Jade and none more so than Indian Big Brother, it was pure exploitation. What she did for cervical cancer awareness though was courage personified. #JadeGoody— Michael Cowan (@mrmikecowan) August 21, 2019I still can’t believe jade was filmed on indian big brother getting the news she had cancer I mean what the hell? #jadegoody— Hollie (@HollieBradbury) August 21, 2019Just watching a show about Jade Goody and I had absolutely no idea that she found out that she had cervical cancer live on air whilst on an Indian version of Big Brother 😫Imagine that. Horrendous.— Jack Harris (@JackHarris35) August 21, 2019Did not know Jade Goody found out about her cervical cancer during the Indian Big Brother and it was part of the show. Fucking hell.— Ciarz (@CiarzScrawlings) August 21, 2019I’m watching jade goodys doc and they really told her she had cervical cancer through the phone when she was in big brother INDIA. Tears in my eyes man that was not cool at all— Oyinkan (@OAdeshoye) August 21, 2019Whatever you think about #JadeGoody being told you've got cancer on live TV was wrong. Reality television has a lot to answer for.— Michael (@MichaelCurates) August 21, 2019Announcing #JadeGoody having cervical cancer worldwide on Indian big brother just shows how disgraceful reality TV was, there was no respect, none at all!— Alisha Tumber (@TumberAlisha) August 21, 2019Ultimately, Jade did return home to commence treatment after just two days in the Big Boss house.
She had originally signed up for the show by way of an apology for her treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, which saw a race row engulf the series.
The final part of the Channel 4 documentary also covered the events in the lead up to Jade’s death cancer in March 2009, with heartbreaking accounts from her family and friends about her final weeks.
Ahead of the episode airing, a cervical cancer charity urged viewers not to shame women who are nervous about cervical screenings, after numbers attending appointments hit a 19-year low.
Jade Goody: The Reality Star Who Changed
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