Alesha Dixon defends Diversity after their Black Lives Matter performance attracts 10,000 complaints

The former Britain’s Got Talent winners performed the routine during the show’s first semi-final
Alesha Dixon has expressed her support for Ashley Banjo and Diversity
Getty Images
Kimberley Bond11 September 2020

Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon has jumped to Diversity's defence as the dance troupe face complaints over a performance inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 2009 BGT winners, led by Ashley Banjo, performed on the talent show last Saturday in a routine which saw them take the knee and reference George Floyd, a black American citizen who died in police custody after an officer knelt on his neck.

While the judges gave the troupe a standing ovation, the performance has led to over 10,267 Ofcom complaints and is now the second-most complained about television event of the decade, behind Roxanne Pallett’s "punchgate" on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

Banjo, 31, has since spoken out against the controversy, posting a photo that he had been sent of himself alongside boxer Anthony Joshua and Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton on Instagram asking them not to comment on racism.

Diversity's performance has caused controversy He captioned the photo: "Silence was never and will never be an option."
Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX

Dixon, 41, then replied to the post: “They can kiss my black a**.”

Banjo spoke frankly about his own experiences of racism in the UK in recent Channel 4 documentary The Talk, in which he said he had been pulled over “tens of times.”

“Don’t get me started on car theft . . . don’t get me started on ‘you match the description’,” Banjo said on the programme.

His brother, Jordan Banjo, said he had been pulled over by police the day before they filmed the one-off show.

The Diversity frontman also revealed he had been on the receiving end of a barrage of abuse following the performance.

“So much to say... But I’ll Just let the performance talk,” he told his 326,000 followers. “Thousands of messages of love and support - thank you.

“For the thousands of messages of hate and ignorance - thank you. You highlight exactly what needs to change.

“Sending nothing but love to you all.”

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