BRITAIN’S Got Talent’s Ashley Banjo says he would do the Black Lives Matter dance “100 times over” as Ofcom backs Diversity’s performance.
The dance, which saw a police officer kneeling on Ashley Banjo, sparked 24,500 complaints to the broadcast regulator after it aired on September 5.
However, Ashley remains defiant and says he would do the dance “100 times over”.
Posting the official statement from Ofcom on his Instagram, the BGT star said: “Creativity is always a leap of faith. All I did what was what felt right and I’d do it 100 times over… Sending love to everyone that stood by us #Diversity”
It comes as the number of complaints over the Black Lives Matter dance, which referenced the death of George Floyd in the US and saw Diversity take the knee, rose to 24,500 today.
A spokesperson for the watchdog told The Sun Online: “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 angry that it aired, with one fuming: “Take politics out of family entertainment.”
