Diversity star Ashley Banjo said that he has been “overwhelmed” by “the amount of conversation [his] performance has thrown up” after a Black Lives Matter-inspired routine on Britain’s Got Talent prompted more than 1,000 complaints to Ofcom.
The troupe’s routine was inspired by this year’s protests and saw dancer Banjo pinned down by another dancer dressed as a police officer in reference to the death of George Floyd.
Diversity, who won Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009, took the knee on stage before the song Black Lives Matter by Dax played in the background.
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom said that it received 1,121 complaints about Saturday’s episode of Britain’s Got Talent, “most of which were in relation to the Diversity performance.”
"We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate," an Ofcom spokesperson said.
Banjo, who is currently serving as a judge on the Britain’s Got Talent panel while Simon Cowell recovers from major surgery on his back, revealed in a Twitter post that he had received “thousands of messages of love and support” as well as “thousands of messages of hate and ignorance.”
“So much to say... But I’ll Just let the performance talk,” he wrote. “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.”
In a later post on Instagram, he added that he has “always tried to create not only to entertain but also to inspire” and promised “that will never change.”
“I’m so grateful and overwhelmed by all of the love and support but also by the amount of conversation this performance has thrown up,” he continued.
“2020 has been such a historical year. One day we will look back and realise it was the start of real change…”
His fellow dancer Perri Kiely wrote: “It’s exactly as I expect yet I struggle to understand what goes on inside so many people’s heads… the world needs to wake up.
“This is genuinely heartbreaking.”
Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV on Saturday.
