Big Brother's Omar El Mayer Receives Record‑Breaking 22,000 Complaints Over 'Controlling' Conduct Omar El Mayer, a contestant on the civilian series of Big Brother, has sparked the highest number of viewer complaints ever recorded - more than 22,000 - after accusations of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his girlfriend Rhianna Collins. The incident echoes past controversies like Jade Goody's racism row and Roxanne Pallett's punch‑gate, prompting ITV and Ofcom to step in and issue warnings. The show's producers faced criticism from audiences and Women's Aid, who labelled his conduct as worrying, while the network reviews its policies to maintain viewer trust. Big Brother Britain has seen its highest ever number of viewer complaints over the behaviour of contestant Omar El Mayer, the 21‑year‑old star of the civilian series. Omar El Mayer Breaks Record for Most ComplaintsITV and the UK regulator Ofcom have confirmed that more than 22,000 complaints have been lodged against the housemate for what has been described as controlling and coercive conduct towards his on‑and‑off girlfriend, Rhianna Collins, who is 22. The volume of complaints has made El Mayer the most complained‑about civilian contestant in the program's history, surpassing the previous record set by Jade Goody in 2005 and the 27,000 complaints that triggered a response to Roxanne Pallett's infamous "punch‑gate" incident in 2009.The complaints stemmed from an episode that aired last week in which El Mayer allegedly scolded Collins for discussing their break‑up with other housemates, using language such as "don't talk about me," "don't cry," "don't look away from me" and "fix up." ITV stated that the channel was alarmed by the extent of the backlash and said that it had taken steps to address the situation. In a "diary room" confrontation, the show's producer warned the contestant that his choice of words and behaviour could have a negative impact on both his fellow housemates and the viewing public.El Mayer defended himself in the feedback clip, insisting he had never dismissed anyone's feelings and that his actions were solely directed at protecting his relationship with Collins. The producer counter‑ed, noting the importance of being mindful of how his language could affect others. Public reaction was swift and fierce. Within days, audiences described the aired argument as "uncomfortable" and claimed that El Mayer appeared to be attempting to exert coercive control over both his girlfriend and the house environment.Women's Aid Condemns Controlling BehaviourCalls for ITV to remove him from the show started to circulate on social media, and the charity Women's Aid issued a statement condemning his behaviour as "worrying." The Daily Mail reached out to the network for a response, while some viewers argued that the warning issued to the contestant was insufficient and called for a stricter intervention. Despite the controversy, El Mayer and Collins announced on Monday that they would put their relationship on pause after both acknowledged the difficulty of remaining apart, only to reconcile at the start of a new episode.ITV Reviews Policies to Prevent Future IncidentsThe incident highlights the challenges of managing participant conduct in reality television, where personal dynamics can blur the lines between private drama and public entertainment. ITV is reportedly reviewing its policies and monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar controversies in future seasons. Ofcom, meanwhile, has committed to analysing the complaints further and to ensuring that content broadcast to the public is handled responsibly.With the ever‑increasing scrutiny on reality programmes, the El Mayer case serves as a reminder that viewers expect a certain standard of behaviour from those who appear under the public eye.