GRIFFITH University bullying researcher Dr Linda Shallcross says Kinghorn's admission that she would have stood behind Jake during Tuesday's eviction was validating the housemates' dislike of her.
Kinghorn's response also condones the way she was treated by the show's producers even though viewers vented their anger at the eviction process on social media, says Dr Shallcross. "I didn't feel bullied. I didn't feel humiliated. I would have stood behind Jake too, he is a great guy," Kinghorn told AAP on Wednesday. Kinghorn was evicted after the 14 housemates were told to stand behind either her, or her playing partner Jake, to decide who should stay in the house. The housemates also had to give a reason why. The eviction was called cruel, mean and bullying on Big Brother's official Facebook page. Dr Shallcross said the eviction was mobbing, where people gang up on one person, and a "form of violence". She said domestic violence victims often rationalise the acts of others by blaming themselves and Kinghorn seemed to be following suit. "It's similar to a domestic violence situation," Dr Shallcross said. "She's blaming herself and that's typical victim behaviour like domestic violence.
