Jade Goody thought cancer was punishment for Celebrity Big Brother race row, new documentary reveals
Reality star is focus of new Channel 4 documentary
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jade Goody believed her cancer may have been a punishment for the race row she caused on Celebrity Big Brother.
The reality star, who first appeared on the normal version of Big Brother in 2003, returned in 2007 and was accused of bullying Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty.
During her time on the show, she called her fellow contestant "Shilpa Poppadom" and said she needed "a day in the slums".
Goody apologised for her behaviour, but – in a new Channel 4 documentary – her mum, Jackiey Budden, reportedly reveals her racist behaviour haunted her ahead of her death from cervical cancer in 2009.
“One night she felt really scared because, obviously, she knew she was going very soon," Budden said. “She said, ‘Mum I feel like they’re coming to get me. They’re coming to get me. It’s going all dark’.
Budden added: “She said, ‘Is that because I was so bad in Big Brother?’”
Goody came fourth in the third series of Big Brother and enjoyed a successful career in the entertainment industry up until the Celebrity Big Brother race row.
Speaking in the documentary, former Big Brother host Davina McCall said: “I felt such enormous joy at Jade’s popularity. Then, ‘Oh my God, what happened? How can it all turn in a nanosecond? She’s now become the most hated girl in Britain?’"
Jade Goody: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain starts 7 August at 9pm on Channel 4
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments