BGT Ashley: I’m proud of ‘black lives’ dance
Diversity star defends troupe’s BLM routine
ASHLEY Banjo says he “stands by every decision” after Diversity’s Black Lives Matter-themed dance sparked thousands of complaints.
The dance troupe performed the moving routine on September 5’s pre-recorded BGT semi-final.
On Friday it was reported that 15,000 viewers had contacted TV regulator Ofcom, despite praise on social media.
The number of complaints has since swelled to 21,673.
Banjo, 31, addressed the controversy in an Instagram video, saying: “It’s been a crazy week... I just want to say thank you to all the people who supported what me and Diversity did with that performance.
“I’m right in the centre of it and the negativity is in the minority.” Ashley said the routine was a “summary of 2020” – tackling topics such as lockdown, Covid-19, the NHS, George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter movement. He also revealed that he has received “racial abuse BACKING Amanda Holden and threats” and added:
“The racism shows exactly why these performances and exactly why this conversation that has arisen is so necessary.”
He said he was pleased with how he highlighted the issue of racism, saying: “The fact that it was a medium like a dance and it was on a show like Britain’s Got Talent in the mainstream is so important.
“Families, schools, homes, friends are now having this conversation.”
Fellow judge Amanda Holden backed Ashley and praised the way he had dealt with the complaints and backlash over the dance. Speaking on Good Mor ni n g Br i t a i n yesterday, she said: “He’s an extraordinarily intelligent man… he sends out positive vibes to both the haters and the lovers of the piece they did. It just shows what an amazing human being he is.
“I think he’s saddened by the negativity but it backs up the fact we all need to be talking about it and supporting it.”