Ashley Banjo has revealed some of the vile messages and threats shared online amid the row over Diversity’s BGT Black Lives Matter performance.
Earlier this month, the star and dance group caused controversy with a powerful Black Lives Matter routine on Britain’s Got Talent.
The show, which referenced the death of George Floyd in America, sparked more than 15,000 complaints to regulator Ofcom.
What did Ashley Banjo say about the Black Lives Matter performance backlash?
Taking to Instagram today (Monday, September 14), Ashley hit back at comments people had made online in the wake of the BGT performance.
In one, a social media user claimed that what was termed ‘racist abuse’ was really just fair ‘criticism’.
Sharing screengrabs on Instagram, the Dancing On Ice judge wrote: “No I don’t mean ‘criticism’… I mean ‘racism’. I mean hate… the very thing that makes every single second of that performance and every single complaint worth it.”
Writing further, Ashley revealed he was initially reluctant to highlight the hate he had seen online.
But he felt like he had to. And he urged his followers not to feel pity for him, but instead for those who face such abuse and have “no voice or platform” to tackle it head on.
Read more: Amanda Holden says she backs Ashley Banjo ‘100 per cent’ amid BGT Diversity backlash
He continued in the post: “I didn’t want to even shed light on any of this directly. But here’s just a small selection from the past week.
“And please don’t worry about or feel sorry for me… Feel sorry for the people that endure this kind of abuse and have no voice or platform. Feel sorry for the people that have been singled out, abused and in some cases murdered because of the colour of their skin.”
Racism… the very thing that makes every single second of that performance and every single complaint worth it.
Ashley added: “The only saving grace is that this is the vast minority… But for all the people asking or wondering – yes, it is very real and yes it does exist. #diversity #racism.”
Ashley Banjo says racist comments are ‘vast minority’
One of the messages read: “Diversity of race, race mixing, cultures’ diversity etc, is never going to bring anything ‘vibrant’. We are tribes, we like our own. A race war is coming.
Another vile post said: “If you don’t like living in a white country, go live in Africa. I think you would genuinely feel more comfortable there. As would I if you did.”
A third stated: “He wants to start looking over his shoulders now.”
Read more: BGT: Ratings ‘drop by 500,000 a week after Diversity controversy’
The backlash reportedly led to a ratings drop of half a million viewers a week after the Diversity performance.
Various stars have voiced their support for Ashley and the other dancers, including fellow judge Amanda Holden.
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