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'BGT' Complaints Soar To Almost 2,000 After Alesha Dixon Wears BLM Necklace

Ciara Sheppard

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| Last updated 

'BGT' Complaints Soar To Almost 2,000 After Alesha Dixon Wears BLM Necklace

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Alesha Dixon's Black Lives Matter necklaces worn on Britain's Got Talent at the weekend have yielded almost 2,000 complaints from viewers.

The judge, 41, wore the gold staggered BLM necklaces on Saturday's show in solidarity with Diversity after the dance troupe's political routine received over 24,000 complaints to Ofcom.

Now, the defiant move has won Alesha complaints of her own, with the broadcasting watchdog revealing it had received 1,901 complaints about her accessory choice so far.

Alesha wore the necklaces in response to the Diversity backlash (Credit: @aleshaofficial)
Alesha wore the necklaces in response to the Diversity backlash (Credit: @aleshaofficial)
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A spokesperson from Ofcom told LADbible: "We are assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."

The complaints come after Diversity's much-talked about routine performed earlier this month, which depicted the events of 2020 including coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter cause.

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.

The moment was a reference to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis in May.

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Despite receiving 24,501 complaints in total, 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."

Explaining in in a statement, Ofcom said: "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."

Topics: Entertainment News, Britain's Got Talent

Ciara Sheppard
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