Aboriginal actor Shareena Clanton has been subjected to a torrent of online abuse after detailing allegations of racism while working for the soap hit Neighbours.
WARNING: The following story contains content that some readers may find distressing.
Clanton said calling out the issues she encountered had resulted in a backlash that further highlighted racist attitudes across Australia.
"I stand by my truth and what I said I bore witness to and directly endured," she said.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Clanton said "overt and covert levels of racism were rife" during her months working on the TV show.
The actor, known for her role in the award-winning prison drama Wentworth, said she felt "ostracised and further marginalised" after calling out the behaviour to human resources staff.
Clanton, a Wongatha,Yamatji, Noongar and Gitja woman, said it had been "lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe place".
In a follow-up post on Instagram today, Clanton showed abusive comments she had received since going public with her concerns.
"What a token career she had — she can kiss goodbye," said one post.
Another post said "never hire brown people".
A third comment called Clanton a "whiner".
'I'm the one at risk of being blacklisted'
Clanton said the on-set behaviour she described in her earlier post happened and she had documentation to back it up.
"I didn't even post some of the more triggering/traumatising/vile comments I saw … aimed at me," she said on Instagram today.
"One [in] particular said 'This is why you don't employ Aboriginal people, all they do is whinge'."
Clanton said she had no qualms about criticising power structures like Fremantle Media, the production company behind the program, saying it had expressed no remorse and had taken no action on her complaints.
"What do I have to gain here by speaking the truth to one of the most powerful and multi-million dollar global production houses like Fremantle Media," she asked.
"I'm the one at risk of being blacklisted."
Fremantle Media to hold cultural review into Neighbours
In an interview with the ABC, Clanton said she had to "protect her peace" after copping the waves of abuse online.
She said she understood the backlash given Neighbours was such an iconic show, but had endured it by "grounding myself in truth, being gentle and to remind myself that I'm doing the right thing".
"Let's start with basic respect – I wouldn't speak to you like that," she said.
"This is bigger than one individual situation, or situations and experiences, and despite the events being incredibly traumatic and stressful, it's important that we continue to be bold and courageous and speak up about it."
Clanton added that she had received a call from the chief executive of Fremantle Media, who told her the production company would investigate her claims.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Fremantle Media said the company would conduct an "independent cultural review" of Neighbours.
A spokesperson for Fremantle Media said on Tuesday the company had held "significant and lengthy discussions" with Clanton during her time on the show.
"Our quest is always to continue to grow and develop in this area and we acknowledge that this is an evolving process," the spokesperson said.
Meyne Wyatt, a Wongutha-Yamatji actor and director who worked on Neighbours between 2014 and 2016, said he had also experienced racism on the set.
Five years later, he said, it was "disappointing but not at all surprising" to hear that racism continued to be present in that workplace.
