Big Brother star to sue ITV after claiming she suffered ‘psychological turmoil’

By Google News Category Reality · 2026-11-08T16:56:00+01:00

A contestant from the 2023 series of Big Brother has filed a lawsuit against ITV (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock) A former Big Brother contestant says that she has filed a lawsuit against ITV for her treatment on and after the show. Trish Balusa, who appeared on the reality TV franchise’s 20th series, finished in eighth place, leaving the house on day 35 of the competition.

Balusa faced intense scrutiny when a series of social media posts were unearthed after her eviction. She issued a swift apology for the posts – written a decade prior to her Big Brother outing – and said that she was ’embarrassed’ by the sentiments expressed.

The 36-year-old is now seeking legal action following housewife Rochelle Rackham’s win last week – believing there to be a double standard in how ITV has responded to allegations of racism. She has accused the broadcaster and its production companies of negligence, breach of contract, and misrepresentation.

Trish Balusa exited the house during a double elimination (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) Rochelle Rackham’s Big Brother win has caused Balusa to reflect upon her own experience (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) In a statement to Reality Tea, Balusa said: ‘What played out on screen shows exactly how race and identity shape the way a person is treated, received and humanised.

‘I faced a brutal narrative over past comments, so relentless that even the support I was offered fell short. Now I’ve watched a contestant face allegations of discriminatory behaviour, past and present, and be protected, defended and, ultimately crowned by the very public that demanded accountability from me. ‘Britain needs to be honest about how it treats Black women on reality TV.

Duty of care training can’t stop at contestants. Producers and production teams must be held to the same standard, or they will keep amplifying the very racism they’re meant to protect us from. ‘Accountability isn’t reserved for participants.

Production companies have a duty to protect contestants from others who display harmful behaviour; run a properly-informed and adequate vetting process; and apply a structured, consistent disciplinary process. ‘When they fail on any of these, they must be held accountable, too.’ She described herself as feeling ‘gaslit’ by her experience on the programme, and vindicated by recent events.

Balusa’s newfound fame backfired when a series of posts from her past suddenly re-emerged (Picture: Shutterstock) Balusa continued: ‘The accountability everyone demanded of me must now apply to others.

‘What has been an ongoing psychological turmoil for me will now be a legal and financial learning point for those responsible, and hopefully can trigger genuine reform in duty of care, race relations, and reality TV.’ Following accusations of racism and homophobia, Balusa’s invitation to the live final was withdrawn, and she was excluded from any post-eviction appearances.

In a subsequent apology, Balusa said: ‘I would like to sincerely apologise for the harmful stereotypes I perpetuated and the pain I have caused to the marginalised communities and groups of people mentioned.

‘I have come a very long way since by educating myself and being educated by others on the impact and harm these views cause.’ She later said that she would have to speak to her young son about the scandal, and how she had been complicit in ‘perpetuating views that are very hurtful for others.’ Balusa was snubbed by ITV and Big Brother after past comments emerged (Picture…

Originally published by Google News Category Reality