Britain’s Got Talent receives 1,100+ complaints following Diversity’s Black Lives Matter routine

Dance troupe were praised on social media for routine referencing police brutality

Britain’s Got Talent received more than 1,100 complaints after broadcasting a Black Lives Matter themed performance from dance group Diversity, Ofcom has said.

The talent competition returned with the first of its semi-finals last Saturday (5 September), with season three winning dance troupe Diversity returning to perform an emotional routine inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent protests around the world.

Underscored by Tomfoolery’s viral poem “The Great Realisation”, the performance saw group leader Ashley Banjo pinned down by a police officer, with the group going on to take the knee on the words: “Black Lives Matter.”

While the routine was widely praised online, an Ofcom spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail on Monday (7 September) that 1,121 people had complained about the episode of Britain’s Got Talent, with the majority of complaints pertaining to Diversity’s performance.

“We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate,” they said.

Diversity leader Ashley Banjo was seen being pinned down by police (ITV)

Responding to both the support and complaints he had received, Banjo tweeted: “So much to say... But I’ll just let the performance talk. Thousands of messages of love and support - Thank you.

“For the thousands of messages of hate and ignorance - thank you. You highlight exactly what needs to change. Sending nothing but love to you all.”

The dancer also served as a judge on Saturday’s episode of Britain’s Got Talent, replacing head judge Simon Cowell who is recovering after breaking his back falling off an electric bike in August.