BANJO’ED OVER TELLY BLM DANCE
But TV judge will not be silenced
ASHLEY Banjo says his Black Lives Matter dance on Britain’s Got Talent caused division in his own family.
More than 25,000 viewers complained about the performance, and some of Ashley’s loved-ones felt it was wrong to do it on an entertainment show.
The Dancing On Ice judge said: “Even among my own family and friends the performance sparked conversation.
“There has been some negativity with my family. There was division.
“People didn’t directly disagree with the performance but there was a conversation about if it was really necessary. I saw it happen in my own household.
“And there are people who normally talk to me but suddenly we haven’t spoken at all. Silence says a lot.”
Ashley was bombarded with abuse from the public after the performance aired in September, and he is still getting hundreds of taunts every week.
He said: “I am getting negativity left, right and centre. It’s happening all the time. Every day people just make digs.
“Before Dancing On Ice starts I’ll get messages saying, ‘Just so you know before you go on… you’re useless.’ They do it to knock you. It makes me sad.
These people use their day just to give you a dose of negativity. And I get hundreds of those messages every week.
“But the people who are saying rubbish haven’t got the guts to come and say it to my face.”
Defiant Ashley refuses to let the backlash stop him making a stand for things he believes in.
He added: “The reaction fires me up. It makes me realise how important it is to use our platforms to do things that are close to our hearts.
“Our platforms are really important.
“It doesn’t mean that we are perfect or that we are the spearhead of knowing what’s absolutely correct.
“I’m just in a position where a lot of people can hear my voice. And whether you agree with me or not, I’m going to say it.”
Media watchdog Ofcom took no action over the complaints and ITV has fully supported Ashley.