ITV back Diversity and Ashley Banjo after BGT performance edges closer to most complained about moment in a decade

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ITV are supporting Diversity’s “heartfelt” Black Lives Matter performance on Britain’s Got Talent after almost 22,000 people complained to Ofcom.

The performance – which aired last Saturday and featured imagery of George Floyd’s death – is currently the second most complained about TV moment of the decade.

Diversity’s controversial dance could be the most complained about moment of the decade

However, ITV have confirmed to HOAR Online that they are standing by the dance and Ashley Banjo.

A spokesperson told HOAR Online: “Britain’s Got Talent has always been an inclusive show, which showcases diversity and supports strong storytelling in all forms and ITV stands behind the decision to broadcast Diversity’s performance on BGT.

“Ashley and the group are a great example of the talent, creativity and diversity of modern Britain and their performance was an authentic, heartfelt response to many of the issues and events which have affected society in 2020.”

Meanwhile, a ITV insider has told us that they’ve been inundated with “many messages of support” from fans who were touched by the performance.

The dance featured imagery from the BLM movement
ITV has stuck by the dance

Yesterday, Amanda Holden said the team have received “100,000s” of positive messages about the dance.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: “It is extraordinary. I think the number of negative complaints means this conversation is right and needs to happen.

“What hasn’t been reported is the positive response – hundreds of thousands of them. We stand by them and stand by Ashley Banjo 100 per cent.”

Reports also said Alesha Dixon “would quit if ITV apologised for the performance”.

Alesha publicly supported Ashley Banjo

Alesha, 41, came out in defence of Ashley and his dance group this week, telling haters to “kiss my black a**”.

A source has told the Mail: “Alesha is absolutely furious and doesn’t think anyone should be apologising for anything. 

“Ashley is in a complete state over all of this and it has knocked his confidence. Alesha has spent the week supporting him and building him back up.

“She is very sad about it all but staunchly stands by the dance. It is something she feels incredibly passionate about so if ITV were to say sorry, it would be understandably hard for her to continue.”

Objections to the TV watchdog has soared about the dance, which saw a white police officer kneeling on Ashley Banjo.

Stand-in head judge Amanda Holden stuck by Ashley

It’s close to being TV’s most complained about moment of the decade.

The first is Roxanne Pallett’s Celebrity Big Brother ‘punchgate’ drama with former Corrie star Ryan Thomas with 25,327 complaints and Kim Woodburn’s interview on Loose Women comes third with 7,912 complaints.

Despite the hatred aimed at Diversity – who won BGT in 2009 – Ashley defiantly said: “Every complaint was worth it.”

Sharing some of the vile messages he’d received, Ashley wrote: “No I don’t mean ‘criticism’… I mean ‘Racism’.

Ashley Banjo has opened up about the abuse he’s suffered

“I mean hate… I mean the very thing that makes every single second of that performance and every single complaint worth it.

He continued: “I didn’t want to even shed light on any of this directly. But here’s just a small selection from the past week.

“And please don’t worry about or feel sorry for me… Feel sorry for the people that endure this kind of abuse and have no voice or platform.

“Feel sorry for the people that have been singled out, abused and in some cases murdered because of the colour of their skin,” he added.

“The only saving grace is that this is the vast minority… But for all the people asking or wondering – yes it is very real and yes it does exist.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/britains-got-talent/ant-mcpartlins-ex-lisa-armstrong-clears-out-stars-stuff-and-leaves-it-on-the-street/