The Only Way is Essex star Vas J Morgan has accused the ITV reality show of “systematic racism”.
In an Instagram post, Morgan called out the network for tokenism and for “perpetuating the same racial stereotype that has been used to oppress and control black people”.
Morgan’s decision to speak out came after the show’s official Instagram page allegedly started deleting his comments calling out racist replies under a Black Lives Matter post.
The star, who appeared on the show from 2014 to 2018, said he "was almost never allowed to show any sides of my personality that weren't angry, aggressive or negative".
He said he felt like he was a "token representation of minority” in the predominantly white cast, and was "there to be paraded out as a symbol but never treated equally to the other cast members”.
Morgan claimed his “story arc was never nurtured the way that my white counterparts were" and that when he came out as gay on national television and struggled off-screen with depression and addiction, he was “never offered support the way my white castmates were”.
On why he believes Towie reinforced negative racial stereotypes, he wrote: “I often warned producers that I didn’t feel comfortable arguing with women as, regardless of my sexuality, I was a 6.2 feet tall black man. This concern was always ignored.”
He added: “I feel guilty for not sharing this part of my journey sooner. But like so many other people who are dependent on those in power, the fear of being blacklisted… has always held me back.”
An ITV spokesperson told the BBC: "We are concerned to have read Vas's recent comments about Towie, and got in touch with him yesterday evening in the hope we can discuss the issues he's raised at his earliest convenience."
