A Big Brother housemate who prompted more than 7,000 complaints has been spoken to about his on-screen behaviour - but some fans say the show's not doing enough.

Viewers and women's safety charities had been calling on ITV to intervene in Omar El Mayer and Rhianna Collins' relationship after several heated exchanges between the pair.

He was called into Big Brother's Diary Room during Wednesday's episode and told his language and behaviour "could cause offence". He denied dismissing Rhianna's feelings.

ITV has been contacted for comment. The broadcaster previously said "welfare and safeguarding are prioritised throughout the production".

Big Brother contestants live together for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with almost everything they do captured on camera.

The popular reality show format sees divides form and tensions build as housemates try to avoid being eliminated in weekly votes.

Collins and El Mayer struck up a relationship after entering the Big Brother house but concerns about his alleged "toxic" behaviour had grown among fans.

Monday's episode, which showed a heated exchange between the pair, generated 7,138 complaints, according to broadcast watchdog Ofcom.

Viewers saw Collins break off the relationship before being called to the Diary Room, where she told Big Brother she and El Mayer "have not been good over the last few days".

"Sometimes I don't like the way he speaks to me."

Later, Collins was seen telling El Mayer she didn't want to argue, to which he replied: "Then don't say mad things that you don't mean. It's not fair... sort it out, get it together."

Both Women's Aid and Refuge allege the 21-year-old behaviour towards Collins is concerning and say ITV should do more to protect contestants.

Following the backlash, EL Mayer was called to the Diary Room during Wednesday's episode.

Big Brother told him: "At times it appears that you are dismissing your fellow housemates' feelings and experiences".

"Some of the language used on more than one occasion and the behaviour you have exhibited could cause offence to your housemates or the viewing public."

El Mayer said he "fully understood" the allegations but denied dismissing Collins' feelings.

He said he would challenge people if he disagreed with them, but said he did not believe he had told anyone they weren't entitled to feel however they wanted to.

"Let's be honest here, we're not just talking about housemates, we're talking about my conversations with me and Rhianna," he continued.

He said he'd "done nothing but look out for her" and "didn't walk in with any bad intentions or any malice".

"I've acknowledged my housemate's feelings."

Fans were quick to complain on social media, saying Big Brother should have been firmer and El Mayer should have received a formal warning for his behaviour.

One viewer described it as "a soft talking to" but another said Big Brother made "it clear that his behaviour has not gone unnoticed".

Ofcom said it was assessing the complaints and had not yet decided whether to investigate.

A spokesperson for ITV said earlier this week that housemates receive "respect and inclusion training" and an "extensive briefing" from the show's team on how to prepare for living in the house and to "set out Big Brother's expectations for appropriate behaviour and language".

They said housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and "any instances of inappropriate behaviour are responded to appropriately".

A welfare team is also available to support housemates, the statement added.

Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt