Diversity’s Britain’s Got Talent dance WON’T be investigated by Ofcom despite 24,500 complaints
BRITAIN’S Got Talent’s BLM dance won’t be investigated by the TV watchdog – despite it receiving 24,500 complaints. Ofcom told The Sun today that it won’t launch a probe into Diversity’s performance, which saw a police officer kneeling on Ashley Banjo. The decision has upset some viewers, with one insisting: “We need a petition to […]
BRITAIN’S Got Talent’s BLM dance won’t be investigated by the TV watchdog – despite it receiving 24,500 complaints.
Ofcom told The Sun today that it won’t launch a probe into Diversity’s performance, which saw a police officer kneeling on Ashley Banjo.
The decision has upset some viewers, with one insisting: “We need a petition to get rid of Ofcom.”
It comes as the number of complaints over the dance, which saw Diversity take the knee, rise to 24,500 today.
A spokesperson for the watchdog said: “We concluded that the programme did not raise issues which warranted investigation under our broadcasting rules.
“We carefully considered a large number of complaints about this artistic routine, an area where freedom of expression is particularly important.
“Diversity’s performance referred to challenging and potentially controversial subjects, and in our view, its central message was a call for social cohesion and unity.
“Any depictions of violence by the performers were highly stylised and symbolic of recent global events.
“There was no explicit reference to any particular political organisation – but rather a message that the lives of black people matter.”
It came after ITV yesterday said they were standing by the dance – and Britain’s Got Talent stand-in judge Ashley Banjo.
A spokesperson told The Sun Online: “Britain’s Got Talent has always been an inclusive show, which showcases diversity and supports strong storytelling in all forms.
“ITV stands behind the decision to broadcast Diversity’s performance on BGT.
“Ashley and the group are a great example of the talent, creativity and diversity of modern Britain and their performance was an authentic, heartfelt response to many of the issues and events which have affected society in 2020.”
However, some viewers were fuming that it aired, with one fuming: “Take politics out of family entertainment.”
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Other said they regretting lodging an objection with Ofcom, posting: “Didn’t expect anything else it was a waste of time complaining.”
The performance is close to being the most complained-about moment of the decade – just behind the 25,327 who objected to Celebrity Big Brother’s ‘punchgate’ row involving Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas.
Ashley acknowledged Diversity were likely to breach that record, yesterdya sharing a snap with daughter posting: “Just me and Rosie patiently watching as we head for the number 1 spot 
.”
The dance group have been shocked by the reaction, with Ashley’s brother Jordan close to tears as he spoke about being bombaded with “horrible stuff” since the dance aired.