Loose Women 's Kéllé Bryan spoke out on Monday about her Hollyoaks co star Rachel Adedeji's recent comments about the soap.
Rachel wrote a statement about the Channel 4 show, claiming she was "disappointed" at its lack of action after she heard several racial slurs said by other members of staff.
She said a make up artist told her "you're all the same", while the black women in the cast were told to vary their hair because otherwise viewers would not be able to tell them apart.
She also said her fellow black cast mates were called "angry, aggressive, and too vocal".
Her statement was in response to a video of Kéllé, who had announced that the show was "having lots of important conversations" amid the Black Lives Matter movement, and was beginning a podcast about racism.
Speaking to her fellow Loose Women presenters Andrea McLean and Jane Moore, Kéllé said: "‘Myself and Rachel have spoken and we have shared our feelings.
"We remain speaking to each other. I’m supporting her and she’s reached out to me also. We’ll just work through this, hopefully, internally."
She added: "I completely empathise with Rachel and I have stood by her on many occasions at work when things have happened, we have stood together and tried to work through those things."
She added that her and Rachel had no bad blood between them and that they were working together, with no personal issue between them.
Kéllé suggested to the show bosses that they create a discussion forum where people could openly discuss racism, with bosses present, where the staff could physically see the changes being implemented.
She added that she had already raised grievances with HR on Hollyoaks and ensured that they affected change in the future.
Regarding the backlash she has received, Kéllé said: "It's been really difficult, I've been seen as an Uncle Tom, a coconut, a clown, a puppet to be used.
"I've used my voice very forthrightly way before Black Lives Matter, before I had this support of my community in this way."
She added: "It's been a difficult weekend for the whole of the black cast of Hollyoaks."
In response to the allegations, Hollyoaks told Loose Women: "Lime Pictures has a zero tolerance approach to racism, in line with our commitment to do the right thing, we will review the matters that have been reported."
MirrorOnline has contacted a rep for the show for comment.
* Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV.
