Britain’s Got Talent hit by 1,121 Ofcom complaints for Black Lives Matter dance

Britain’s Got Talent has been hit by a whopping 1,121 Ofcom complaints – making it one of the most complained episodes in the show’s 13 year run.

The first semi-final of 2020 saw a powerful performance by former winners Diversity, inspired by this year’s Black Lives Matter Protests.

During the routine, Ashley Banjo acted out being arrested by a white police officer who proceed to kneel on his neck while bandmates cried out “I can’t breathe.”

The segment appeared to be a reenactment of the death of George Floyd in May.

The content prompted some viewers to take to social media afterwards to accuse producers of ‘politicising’ the Saturday night entertainment show.

It has now been reported that over 1000 fans have made complaints to watchdog Ofcom about the show.

A spokesperson for the regulator told The Sun: “We have received a total of 1,121 complaints in relation to last Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent, most of which related to the Diversity dance segment.

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

Ashley Banjo – who filled in for injured Simon Cowell as a judge on the show- took to Twitter after receiving what he described as ‘hateful and ignorant’ comments about the routine.

Standing up for his dance collective, Ashley penned “So much to say… But I’ll Just let the performance talk. Thousands of messages of Love and support – Thank you. For the thousands of messages of hate and ignorance – Thank you. You highlight exactly what needs to change. Sending nothing but love to you all.”

He then followed this up on Instagram by saying he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the conversation he and Diversity pals have inspired.

He began by sharing a quote by Martin Luther King Jr that read: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Ashley then added: “I’m so grateful and overwhelmed by all of the love and support but also by the amount of conversation this performance has thrown up. 2020 has been such a historical year. One day we will look back and realise it was the start of real change…

“Sending out nothing but love and positivity to everyone reading this post.”

A spokesperson for ITV told the Mirror: ““Diversity’s performance offered their take on the extraordinary events of 2020 opening up important topics of conversation. The show was complied for a family audience.”

It’s not the first time Britain’s Got Talent has been struck by a barrage of viewer complaints.

A number of Amanda Holden’s risqué outfits have caused fans to voice their disapproval over the years.

The plunging Julien Macdonald number she donned in 2017 became the most complained TV moment of the year.

While in 2015, more than 1000 viewers complained over the act Jules and Matisse.

There was uproar when it was revealed dog trainer Jules O’Dwyer used a lookalike dog in her winning routine.

TV boss Peter Fincham later admitted the show should have made it clearer that a stunt double dog was used in the winning sketch.