The Vicar of Dibley’s Black Lives Matter scene draws 266 complaints

Scene saw Dawn French’s character discuss Black Lives Matter and ‘take the knee’

The Vicar of Dibley’s anti-racism scene, in which Dawn French’s character discussed Black Lives Matter, has drawn more than 200 complaints.

The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown, which saw French’s Reverend Geraldine return for a series of festive shorts, featured the character discussing the death of George Floyd. Floyd’s death in police custody sparked international protest against police brutality and systemic racism this summer.

While acknowledging that the fictional village of Dibley lacks diversity, the Reverend said that she had become distracted by “the horror show” of Floyd’s death, and urged her parishioners to respect the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I don’t think it matters where you’re from,” she says. “I think it matters that you do something about it because Jesus would, wouldn’t he? ... I’m aware that all lives matter, obviously, but until all lives matter the same, we’re doing something very wrong.”

She is then seen taking the knee, in reference to widespread protests against racism.

The BBC has now confirmed that they received 266 complaints about the scene.

The corporation previously defended the moment, saying in a statement that the scene “was in keeping with the character and the theme of the show”.

French obliquely addressed criticism of the scene on Twitter shortly after news broke that the show would discuss Black Lives Matter.

Dawn French in The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown (BBC)

“A lovely calm day, full of humanity, compassion and support all round,” she tweeted, before adding that she was being “a tad ironic”.

The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown was well-received during its three-episode run, with viewers left “in tears” over a reference to the death of regular character Alice Tinker. Emma Chambers, the actor who played her on the original show, died in 2018.