Dance group’s routine attracts criticism

The number of complaints about an episode of Britain’s Got Talent in which Diversity performed a routine inspired by Black Lives Matter has risen to 15,500, Ofcom has said.

The dance group, which won the talent show in 2009, took to the stage with a politicallycharged performance during the ITV show’s semi-final earlier this month.

It saw a white police officer kneel on star and temporary BGT judge Ashley Banjo, echoing the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd.

The group all took the knee before the song Black Lives Matter by Dax began, which features the lyrics: “I can’t breathe”, the last words uttered by Mr Floyd.

The performance attracted praise and criticism from members of the public, with the number of complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom rising since the episode was broadcast.

Ofcom said: “We are assessing this content against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”

It is the secondhighest number of complaints to Ofcom for a TV show since 2010, after 25,327 were made in 2018 about Celebrity Big Brother when exEmmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett alleged she had been assaulted by fellow housemate Ryan Thomas.

Responding to the backlash, Banjo said in a post on Instagram: “For the thousands of supportive messages of love and inclusion – Thank you. And for the thousands of messages of hate and ignorance I’ve received – Thank you. You highlight exactly what needs to change.”

Britain’s Got Talent continues on Saturdays at 8pm on ITV.