Click to play videoNew Delhi: Jade Goody, the British reality show contestant who had made headlines for racially abusing Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, is in Delhi not for 'publicity stunt' but to play Good Samaritan.
Goody, who is in India on what she describes as a private visit, profusely apologised over the racism row on the sets of Celebrity Big Brother this January in her first formal interaction with the Indian media on Tuesday.
"I am sorry for the hurt and pain that my actions caused," Goody told a press conference in Delhi.
Goody said she is in India on a charitable mission to donate a part of the "dirty" money that she had earned on the reality TV serial for destitute children in India.
And that was exactly what she did on Tuesday, when she visited a West Delhi slum, danced with impoverished beggar children and donated £25,000 to a charity called Anubhav – or Experience — which cares for children who run away from their homes.
"I was an underprivileged child, but nothing like the children that I have met today," she said after the visit.
While Goody's move was seen as an attempt to rehabilitate her tarnished image, she made it clear that her charity activities have nothing to do with the racism row. "I am not giving the money to improve my image. It is to improve the lives of the underprivileged children," she said.
Goody arrived in New Delhi on Monday and had a brief tour of the city. On Tuesday, she was accompanied by members of the British media to the Mayapuri slums.
"After visiting these children, I realised how small my problems are. They are nothing compared to what these children go through," she said.
Goody described her visit to the slums as inspirational. "They were inspirational," she said. She also announced that "all the money I have earned from Big Brother, everything that is connected to Big Brother will be donated to charity," she said.
Goody also clarified that her trip has nothing to do with the invitation offered to her by the India Tourism in the wake of the racism row. She said she had paid for her trip and would not be meeting any officials in India.
"I have said sorry back at home a number of times and I haven't had the opportunity to say it to the Indian community. I am so sorry for the hurt and pain my actions caused," she said. She also said that she would like to meet Shilpa Shetty in the near future.
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