'Hollyoaks' star Talia Grant says black people are seen as 'disposable'
Hollyoaks star Talia Grant has said she feels black people are treated as “disposable”.
The actress daughter of TV presenters Carrie and David Grant has discussed her own experiences of racism in a special episode of Hollyoaks podcast Don’t Filter Feelings, which was made in response to former co-star Rachel Adedeji’s accusations of racism on set.
Grant, who plays Brooke Hathaway, said: “It's amazing that there is a black cast, and there's all of us, and there is that diversity.
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“But I can't help but feel that sometimes in the industry, and in life in general, they treat black people like we're disposable.”
The soap star was discussing racism with co-stars Trevor A Toussaint, who plays Walter Deveraux, and Richard Blackwood, who plays Felix Westwood in Hollyoaks.
Grant added that the media “can capitalise off of us without actually doing the real work behind the scenes.”
The teenage actress admitted she had “dealt with difficult situations and micro aggressions” while on set.
She added: “It's great for us to be in a high up position, but we're still going to experience it.
“The revolution will not be changed by diversity training, or racism training. It is changed by people changing their attitude and the way that the structural system works.”
In June, 28-year-old Adedeji announced she was quitting the soap. She had played Lisa Loveday in the soap since 2016.
Her departure from Hollyoaks came after she spoke out about experiencing racism on set.
Read more: Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis quitting the soap
Adedeji took exception when the show posted comments supporting the Black Lives Matter movement that she labelled “disingenuous”.
In response to her revelations production company Lime Pictures announced plans to give all staff “unconscious bias” training as part of its efforts to tackle racism.
My thoughts on the Hollyoaks response to Black Lives Matter pic.twitter.com/jvOxzCQkl0
— Rachel Adedeji (@RachelASongs) June 5, 2020
Hollyoaks announced that filming has resumed this week following a hiatus during the coronavirus lockdown.
The soap will go off air for the summer after the final new episode airs on Tuesday, 21 July.
It will then return in September with four episodes a week.