BGT viewers were in tears as Ashley Banjo joined his Diversity co-stars to perform a Black Lives Matter routine.
The ITV talent show returned on Saturday night (September 5) and Ashley stood in for Simon Cowell, who is recovering from a broken back.
The powerful dance recreated a white police officer kneeling on Ashley.
This referenced the death of George Floyd in America after white officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for eight minutes.
Read more: Amanda Holden fights back tears as she talks about stillborn son Theo
George’s death sparked worldwide Black Lives Matter protests.
BGT: Diversity perform BLM performance
As the group began dancing, a rap said: “While we all were hidden, under orders of the Prime Minister, people dusted off their instincts and noticed something more sinister.
“Another disease, deep rooted in our system, fear, hate and ignorance, but racism was the symptom.”
It added: “The world watched on, another black life gone, leaving what we thought we knew in tatters.
Wow… your performance on BGT brought me to tears.
“What we thought we knew, some clearly didn’t, Black Lives Matter.”
The group then stood together and performed a dance, including many of their signature flips and moves.
During the routine, the dancers dropped to one knee as vocals sang: “I can’t breathe.”
Following their performance, host Dec Donnelly said: “So good, so powerful.”
Viewers were also in praise for Diversity.
What did BGT viewers say?
One person said on Twitter: “You are AMAZING – what a powerful message on BGT tonight.
“You had me in tears and here’s to #BlackLivesMatter, let’s keep fighting this fight for equality.”
@Diversity_Tweet you are AMAZING – what a powerful message on BGT tonight. You had me in tears and here’s to #BlackLivesMatter let’s keep fighting this fight for equality ❤️ #BGT #Diversity
— E L L I E B L A K E (@ellieeeroseee_) September 5, 2020
Another wrote: “That @Diversity_Tweet performance on #BGT has me in tears. So powerful, so timely, so perfect. Thank you @AshleyBanjo for your art.”
A third added: “@Diversity_Tweet always get me in tears, their dance on #BGT was SO powerful, they are amazing!”
That @Diversity_Tweet performance on #BGT has me in tears. So powerful, so timely, so perfect. Thank you @AshleyBanjo for your art
— Lorna✨ (@lornamusique) September 5, 2020
@Diversity_Tweet always get me in tears, their dance on #BGT was SO powerful, they are amazing!
— becky. (@beckyyalicee_) September 6, 2020
A fourth tweeted: “Wow… your performance on BGT brought me to tears.
“AMAZING and very powerful message. You guys smashed it… best performance of the night.”
@Diversity_Tweet @AshleyBanjo wow … your performance on BGT brought me to tears … AMAZING and very powerful message. You guys smashed it … beat performance of the night @BGT #beatperfirmance #BGT #diversity #2020message #blacklivesmatter #dancetroup
— julz a (@julzalexander) September 5, 2020
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