Ashley Banjo speaks out after reaction to Diversity dance routine

Greer McNally
·Contributor
Updated ·4-min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Perry Kiely, Ashley Banjo and Jordan Banjo attend the National Television Awards held at the O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Perry Kiely, Ashley Banjo and Jordan Banjo attend the National Television Awards held at the O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Dancer and choreographer Ashley Banjo has spoken out after a Diversity performance on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday prompted over 1,100 complaints to Ofcom.

The troupe performed an emotional dance inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement on the show’s semi-finals, which included a moment when the entire group took the knee in protest.

MUST WATCH: Diversity's emotional Black Lives Matter performance

Afterwards, when Banjo became aware of the negative comments circling the performance he went on social media to address them.

He said: “So much to say... But I’ll just let the performance talk. 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.”

His tweet then prompted more positive and negative feedback on the social media platform.

Read more: Britain's Got Talent's Diversity perform Black Lives Matter dance

Some said Diversity’s performance, which referenced the death of George Floyd in the US, was “powerful”, “perfectly executed” and “a reminder that there are still changes that need to be made”.

While others thought it wasn’t “appropriate for a Saturday family show”, “scary” and the “wrong time, wrong place and wrong message to young children watching”.

An Ofcom spokeswoman told The Sun said: “We have received a total of 1,121 complaints in relation to last Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent, most of which related to the Diversity dance segment.

"We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."

Read more: Ashley Banjo: Replacing Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent is bittersweet

Since it returned to our screens in April, millions have tuned in to watch Britain’s Got Talent each weekend. Banjo is currently standing in as a judge on the talent show, while Simon Cowell recovers from back surgery.

The dance started with Banjo reciting a remix of the poem The Great Realisation by Tomfoolery (real name Tom Roberts). The writer, whose poem has become a viral hit, took to social media to say how honoured he had been to be involved in the performance.

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