ITV takes out full-page ads in every national newspaper to show support for Diversity amid race row
Diversity’s Ashley Banjo said he has “never been prouder” after ITV took out full-page adverts in every national newspaper to show support for the dance group’s Black Lives Matter-themed performance.
The Britain’s Got Talent dance, which was inspired by the death of George Floyd, showed group leader Banjo being pinned down by a police officer, with the troupe taking the knee at the words: “Black Lives Matter.”
Ofcom received about 24,500 complaints over the dance, with many viewers criticising the routine for being “too political” for a Saturday night entertainment programme and condemning it for being racist against white people, as well as portraying the police in a negative light.
ITV responded to criticism of the performance by taking out the full-page adverts in all national newspapers on Saturday (19 September).
The adverts feature a photo from Diversity’s performance, with the caption: “We are changed by what we see. Just as we are changed when we are seen.”
Another message on the image reads: “ITV stand with Diversity.”
Respect to @ITV for running this advert in The Times after all those complaints to Ofcom pic.twitter.com/egdoygbAH6
— Sathnam Sanghera (@Sathnam) September 19, 2020
Banjo then wrote on Instagram: “This is what change looks like. ITV stand with Diversity and we’ve never been prouder.”
A post shared by Ashley Banjo (@ashleybanjogram) on Sep 19, 2020 at 1:27am PDT
Earlier this week, the broadcaster defended Diversity’s “heartfelt” performance and Ofcom rejected the complaints, saying the dance’s central message “was a call for social cohesion and unity”.