Confidence, one of Ghana’s representatives competing for the $200000 at the ongoing Big Bother Africa Amplified, has clashed with her Nigerian counterpart, Karen, because the latter referred to her as a bitch.
“Please don’t call me a bitch because I am a bigger bitch than you. I am a huge bitch. And I would not accept that from you… Listen, you say a lot of things and you go like ‘it was a joke.’ “Sweetie the whole Africa is watching us and we should not use words like bitches. Not even in a joke or in a conversation. And you know what, someone would stand there and say ‘Oooooooo Confidence was called a bitch. ‘I won’t accept it. Call me a foolish or whatever you want to call me but please don’t call me a bitch,” a vexed Confidence charged on Karen.
The Nigerian representative, 27-year old Karen, a professional model, repeatedly referred to her housemates as ‘bitches” when she was asked to read to them details of their task brief.
A few other female housemates also took offence and Karen for using the ‘bitch’ word on them but it was confidence who took her on and strongly registered her protest. Karen initially explained the word as a joke and insisted she had done nothing wrong. She however later apologised to her fellow housemates and said she only called them bitches to get their attention.
I’m sorry if I offended anybody, I wanted to get your attention because it was serious business. I apologise. I love you guys, “Karen noted. It was apparent from the incident that Karen and the housemates did not have the same meaning for the world ‘bitch’ and thus interpreted it differently.
Below are excerpts of what transpired between Confidence and Karen:
Confidence: Sorry not to cut you; even if you would be dealing with us as your home girls, please don’t call me a bitch because I am a bigger bitch than you. I am a huge bitch. And I would not accept that from you.
Karen: But it was only a joke
Confidence: Listen. You say a lot of things and you go like ‘it was a joke.’
Karen: If I knew you were a bitch, I would not come here.
Confidence: Sweetie the whole Africa is watching us and we should not use words like bitches. Not even in a joke or in a conversation. And you know what, someone would stand there and say ‘Oooooo Confidence was called a bitch.’ I won’t accept it. Call me foolish or whatever you want to call me but please don’t call me a bitch.
Karen: It is unusual. My personality is unusual.
Confidence: I used to be like you but I was not going round calling people bitches.
It Was Only A Joke
Confidence: You are saying it is a joke. Maybe to you it is a joke but not everybody wants to have a joke like that. So please… I am not saying don’t play with me but I won’t tell u ‘fuck off’
Karen: Okay. Let me tell you a little bit of me Confidence, I’m blunt and I am playful and when I say fuck off, I don’t mean you should fuck off. It is a joke because you say I am not your age group.
Confidence: I did not say you are not my age group. I said when you are playing with your age group and you say that, that is fine. But you can’t talk to people like that.
Karen: But age is just a number then
Confidence: Sweetie, whether it is age or not, you can’t talk to people like that because I won’t talk to you like that
Karen: Really?
Confidence: Sweetie let’s cut this. Let’s do this some other time.
Karen: Why do you feel as if you are too old for me to handle?
Confidence: I am not too old for you sweetie. You know your age group? I deal with people of that age all the time. You are not too old so my age should not be a problem.
Karen: But that is the way you make me feel
Confidence: Well because you brought the age thing up that is why I made it a point…otherwise I don’t care. I am just like everybody here. You understand.
Karen: But I don’t see your age when I am talking to you.
Confidence: I don’t care. I don’t need anybody to see my age; I don’t want anybody to see my age. If I wanted to at act my age, I would not be here. I am just here to have fun and know new people. I don’t like it when people talk down on people.
Karen: Despite your age, I am still going to be who I am.
Confidence: That is you and I respect you for being that but I am also me and I expect you to respect me for being who I am.
Karen: I do respect you now Confidence. You are a confident woman.
Confidence: Oh it’s okay. I don’t like it when people joke and say things and then go like ‘oh I’m joking…I got drunk’
Karen: Oh I joke a lot and I like joking with you.
Confidence: It is good and healthy. I also joke. Mickey, Mickey, can I have a cigarette please?
