Ashley Banjo has hit back after a poll found that a slim majority of people in the UK think the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests increased tension in the UK.
Tweeting a link to a report about the survey on social media, the Dancing On Ice judge, 32, clapped back and said ‘tension’ is a necessary part of bringing about change, as are conversation and honesty.
Earlier this year, Ashley and his Diversity dance group caused an uproar with a controversial routine on Britain’s Got Talent about the BLM movement and the killing of US citizen George Floyd.
The only thing I can suggest to all the people feeling ‘tension’ is some kind of massage?
The routine sparked thousands of complaints to regulator Ofcom.
What did Ashley Banjo say about the BLM poll?
Taking to Twitter on Sunday (November 29), Ashley hit back at the poll as he tweeted: “And the Diversity performance sparked nearly 30,000 complaints… conversation, honesty and ‘tension’ are all very necessary when you’re facing a deep-rooted issue that’s set in over hundreds of years. Apologies to those that felt ‘tense’…”
Read more: BGT final: Ashley Banjo praises Nabil Abdulrashid for ignoring Ofcom complaints
He added, in a second tweet clarifying his intentions with the first: “For anyone who thought this was any kind of genuine apology… I’m just here to set the record straight.
“The only thing I can suggest to all the people feeling ‘tension’ is some kind of massage?
“Once the lockdown is over of course #Blacklivesmatter.”
For anyone who thought this was any kind of genuine apology… I’m Just here to set the record straight 😂 The only thing I can suggest to all the people feeling ‘tension’ is some kind of massage? Once the lockdown is over of course 😉 #Blacklivesmatter https://t.co/la0cluBCBb
— Ashley Banjo (@AshleyBanjo) November 29, 2020
No Ofcom investigation in Diversity routine
Ashley received the full support of a number of his TV colleagues after Diversity’s controversial routine, including BGT’s Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.
Ofcom ended up rejecting the complaints and deciding the matter did not need investigating.
Also on his side were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who reportedly called him up after the performance.
Ashley Banjo’s royal supporters
Speaking on Lorraine, Ashley said: “Harry and Meghan gave me a call and we chatted for about an hour.
Read more: Ashley Banjo ‘grateful’ for hour-long chat with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following Ofcom row
“We spoke things through and they just told me […] I can always lean on them. They were really great about it and shared a lot of knowledge with me.”
He added on the ITV daytime show: “They opened my eyes to a lot of things I wasn’t aware of actually, so I was really grateful to both of them.”
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