Ashley Banjo has spoken out after a Black Lives Matter Diversity performance on last weekend's Britain's Got Talent sparked over 1,000 complaints.
Ofcom told the BBC there were 1,121 complaints about the weekend's show, "mostly regarding Diversity" and now, Ashley, 31, has taken to social media in response.
You can watch the performance below:
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On Instagram, he wrote: "Art: The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
"My truth, my platform, my art. I've always tried to create not only to entertain but also to inspire... That will never change.
"'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter' - Martin Luther King Jr.
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"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."
The powerful BLM-inspired routine saw lead dancer Ashley lying on his stomach with his arms behind his back, while another Diversity member - playing a policeman - knelt on his neck.
The routine was a reference to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis in May.
Despite the complaints, the performance won a standing ovation from both the Britain's Got Talent judges and the studio audience, while on social media thousands took to Twitter to praise Diversity for their "phenomenal" routine.
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Following the complaints, an Ofcom spokesperson told the BBC: "We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."
The nature of the complaints is currently unknown.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: Britain's Got Talent