Black Lives Matter Performance Attracts Diversity’s Complaints to Ofcom

A Black Live Matters performance by a dance troupe on Britain’s Got Talent attracts complaints of Diversity among the audience. 

The performance was led by Ashley Banjo Saturday’s routine, where he was being knelt on by a police officer in reference to George Floyd’s death.

Banjo, who is also a Britain Got Talent’s judge, said Diversity “wanted to express how the events of this year have made us feel”. 

“We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules,” an Ofcom spokesperson, “but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”

The complaints on the performance by the viewer attracted both praise and scorn for its political stance, with Banjo referring to both in his tweet after the show.

The Diversity performance on Britain’s Got Talent staged as Banjo was lying on the floor. Simultaneously, a dancer dressed as a police officer handcuffed him, and performers gathered around with smartphones to record the incident.

The performance also includes the word: “What we thought we knew, some clearly didn’t. Black Lives Matter.”

The group, who won the talent show in 2009, then all took a knee before the song Black Lives Matter by Dax began, which features the lyrics: “I can’t breathe,” the words which George Floyd repeatedly said as he was restrained.

A BGT spokesperson said: “Diversity’s performance offered their take on the extraordinary events of 2020, opening up important topics of conversation. The show was compiled for a family audience.”

Moreover, Banjo is replacing Simon Cowell’s position as the judge for this series after Cowell injured his back.

Britain’s Got Talent became active again after lockdown with a few differences due to coronavirus – fans were seen beamed in on a huge screen behind the stage as there was no studio audience. And comedian Steve Royle became the first contestant to win a place in the BGT final after a format change meant the judges could choose one of the acts to go straight through to the final.

The other seven contestants will now face the public vote in the hope of landing the other place.