Ashley Banjo has hit back at trolls who have attacked him and his dance troupe, Diversity, after they scooped a BAFTA TV Award on Sunday night.
The star and his team were awarded the Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment award for their incredible performance on Britain’s Got Talent last year that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and global protests in response to the death of American citizen George Floyd at the hands of police.
The routine in question – which Ashley's 28-year-old brother Jordan also performed in – sparked complaints when it aired on Britain’s Got Talent last year as some felt the performance brought a political topic into a mainstream entertainment show.
However, Diversity’s routine clearly impressed the larger public – and their BAFTA award was actually voted for by the public as the ‘must see’ moment of the year.
Ashley and his dance team have been attacked online again by trolls who object to the routine winning a prestigious award.
But Ashley has hit back, sharing a photo of his award on Monday alongside an empowered statement about the important conversation his routine has caused.
The 32-year-old said: "Wow... this is not just any Bafta it's the Must-See Moment, public vote Bafta.
"This just changes the game... this changes the whole chapter of what happened.
"It's not longer the performance that got all the complaints, this is the performance that started some important conversations and won a Bafta."
Ashley finished by saying: "Thank you guys, so proud."
Diversity’s jaw dropping show won the award over Bridgerton’s ‘Penelope is revealed as Lady Whistledown’ twist, EastEnders ‘Gray kills Chantelle’ shocker, Gogglebox’s ‘reaction to Boris Johnson ’s press conference’, the surprise appearance of Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian, and Nigela Lawson’s baffling pronunciation of “microwave” on Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat.
In his acceptance speech on Sunday night, Ashley said: "In a way, I have to say thank you to the people who complained, to the people who did put all that abuse out there online, because you showed the truth.
"You showed exactly why this performance and this moment was necessary."
He added: "But for all of those people, just take a look, because as much as there are so many conversations and so much that needs to change, this is what change looks like."
