Alesha Dixon has been praised for wearing a Black Lives Matter necklace for the Britain's Got Talent semi final after the show has found itself in the centre of controversy this week.
The BGT judge's decision to wear the jewellery - three staggered gold necklaces baring the letters B, L and M - comes after the show received more than 24,000 complaints following a routine by Diversity performed earlier this month.
You can watch it here:
The routine depicted the events of 2020 including coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter protests. In one part, lead dancer Ashley Banjo lies on his stomach with his arms behind his back, while another troupe member - playing a policeman - kneels on his neck, as others take pictures.
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The moment was a reference to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis in May.
Despite the complaints, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom decided the performance "did not raise any issues which warranted investigation" adding that the content was "clearly artistic expression representing Diversity's response to the events of 2020."
Now, Alesha, 41, is being praised for her defiant accessory choice.
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"Living for @AleshaOfficial's BLM necklaces!!! Best 'fuck you' you to everyone who complained to Ofcom Raised fistRaised fistRaised fistRaised fistRaised fist #BGT," wrote one supporter.
"Alesha Dixon said 'f*ck the racists," said another.
"Queen alesha dixon making racists mad by wearing a blm necklace #bgt," raved a third.
"Big props to Alesha Dixon wearing a BLM necklace on BGT Raising hands if anyone has any issues with it then they don't deserve human rights. #BLM #bgtsemifinals," said another.
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In the week following the performance, as news of thens of thousands of complaints rolled in, the singer turned TV-judge wrote "kiss my black a**" on Instagram.
Despite receiving 24,501 complaints in total, Ofcom decided not to take action, explaining in in a statement: "Ofcom received approximately 24,5001 complaints about the above programme.
"Complainants outlined a range of concerns about Diversity's performance, including that the themes of violence and racism were inappropriate for family viewing, that it expressed support for the political organisation 'Black Lives Matter' and that it was racist towards White people.
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"Ofcom also received a number of messages of support and praise for the performance. Ofcom has assessed this programme against the relevant rules in the Broadcasting Code ('the Code').
"Our assessment is that this programme did not raise any issues which warranted investigation.
"In our view, Diversity's performance was an artistic expression of topical social issues and did not contain any content which was racist, unsuitably violent or otherwise inappropriate in the context of this programme."
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Following the complaints, ITV stood in solidarity with Diversity by putting an ad in all the national papers that they 'Stand With Diversity'.
Overlaid on a photo of the troupe performing their BLM-inspired routine, the ad read: "We are changed by what we see. Just as we are changed when we are seen."
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: Entertainment News, Celebrity News, , Entertainment News, Celebrity News,
