Some Big Brother contestants in dark about outrage

Contestants locked in Big Brother houses in several countries have not been told about the attacks in the United States on Tuesday.

But an exception was made in the Netherlands, where the show originated, and the United States, where one of the three remaining contestants has been directly affected: her sister was on the 90th floor of the World Trade Centre’s south tower and has not been heard from since Tuesday’s attack.

Producers of versions of the reality-TV show running in Belgium, Denmark and South Africa have decided to stick to their rule forbidding participants from learning about anything outside the house.

‘‘This is such a great disaster, it has so much influence on society, that we decided to break the rules and tell people,’’ said Endemol Netherlands spokeswoman Sammy Saal. ‘‘They have a right to know what happened.’’

But in Belgium, a psychologist for the ‘‘Big Brother’’ producers advised against letting the 12 people in the house know, said Kristina Vanhaute, spokeswoman for Belgium’s Kanaal 2.

‘‘It’s one of the basic themes in ‘Big Brother’ that they have no contact with what is happening outside of the house,’’ she said. ‘‘If you show them these images, you immediately create a panic situation because they won’t know how things will evolve.’’

She said the producers checked with contestants’ families to make sure that no one inside the house had ties to victims of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

As contestants are voted off the show, which began September 3 in Belgium and runs until mid-December, they will be informed about the attacks by a psychologist, she said.

‘‘Big Brother’’ in South Africa also checked with families before deciding not to tell their contestants. However, producers said they would probably inform the house if the aftermath were to turn into a war during the 87 days the contestants have left.

Eric Engesgaard, spokesman for the Danish show, said the producers there also had concern about crossing a line, given the emotional impact of the images.

‘‘There could be some sensationalism in breaking our promise and informing the people inside the house to see how they react,’’ he said.

Ms Saal said an episode showing how the Dutch residents, who have been in the house for a week, reacted to the news would be edited and broadcast ‘‘in the coming days.’’

No one decided to leave because of the news, she said, although one did drop out for other ‘‘personal reasons,’’ she said.

No updates on the events in the United States are planned.

‘‘They now know what happened and that’s it,’’ she said. ‘‘If they really want to know what happens next, they will have to leave the house.’’

The show, versions of which have been produced around the world, involves locking participants in a large house and recording their activities. Viewers vote on which candidate must leave the house each week. The last one to leave the house wins a cash prize.