Neighbours star Shareena Clanton says she faced ‘racist traumas’ on set of Australian soap

Clanton claimed that the ‘n-word’ was said on multiple occasions

(Jim Lee Photo/Shutterstock)

Neighbours star Shareena Clanton has claimed that she was subject to “multiple racist traumas” while filming the Australian TV series. 

The Aboriginal actor – who is of Wongatha, Yamatji, Noongar and Gidja descent – opened up about incidents she had experienced when starring on the hit soap in a lengthy Instagram post shared yesterday (5 April).

Clanton claimed that “overt and covert levels of racism were rife” during her months working on Neighbours, which airs in Australia on Channel 10. 

“Struggling to post anything positive about the months I endured on @neighbours after multiple racist traumas and navigating ongoing counselling from this highly problematic show,” she wrote, adding that she has not named specific people in order to “avoid any lawsuit”.

In the post, Clanton alleged a number of incidents occurred during her time on the show, including that a white actor called an actor of colour a “lil monkey”.

The actor and activist – who is best known for her role in the prison drama Wentworth – recalled two instances in which the “n-word” was openly used on set. She added that she was told to “go somewhere else” by staff when she confronted the actor over their use of the word.

Clanton also revealed that she paid out of her own pocket for a Wurundjeri elder to be on set for “ongoing cultural safety reasons” after she was told there was no budget.

“The humble few hundred dollars a week Aunty and I proposed was in contrast to the thousands of dollars actors were receiving each pay,” she wrote.

The actor added that she was left feeling “ostracised and further marginalised” after “calling out this misconduct and racism”.

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Clanton continued: “In what was meant to have HR follow up and discuss this led to them saying they were unsure of ‘what else they could do.’”

A spokesperson for Fremantle Media, the production company behind Neighbours, told ABC News that “significant and lengthy discussions” had taken place with Clanton during her time on the series. 

“Neighbours strives to be a platform for diversity and inclusion on-screen and off-screen,” the spokesperson said.

“Our quest is always to continue to grow and develop in this area and we acknowledge that this is an evolving process. Shareena’s involvement in the creative process and on set was invaluable and hugely educational and will benefit the series moving forward.”

Clanton concluded her post by stating: “I’ll never work for this show again.”

Hours after her comments, former Neighbours star Meyne Wyatt took to Twitter to allege that he also encountered racism during his time on the show.

Wyatt – who starred in the soap between 2014 and 2016 – said that it was “disappointing but not at all surprising to hear that five years later, racism continues to be present in that workplace”.

“But what can you say, we are in Australia,” said the Aboriginal actor.

Wyatt also claimed there was “rampant” homophobia on the series, and urged Neighbours, the film and TV industry and Australia to “do better”.