Piers Morgan defends Diversity amid Britain's Got Talent backlash: 'What they did was brilliant'

Dance troupe received criticism over their politically charged routine

Piers Morgan has condemned the people who complained about a performance by dance troupe Diversity over their Black Lives Matter-themed performance.

Ofcom has received more than 15,000 complaints over the dance, which took place on an episode of Britain’s Got Talent.

Since the performance, a number of the group’s members, including temporary judge Ashley Banjo, have received racist abuse.

Morgan said anyone complaining was “part of the problem”.

“What are you complaining about?” he asked on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain. “They are a brilliant dance group, they’re artists.”

He added: “You don’t have to love it, you can appreciate the art. There is no Black Lives Matter Party, they’re not saying they stand by everything, they’re just saying black lives matter.”

Morgan said that if GMB viewers didn’t like his comments than “don’t watch us either”.

“I agree with Ashley Banjo and Diversity and I think what they did was brilliant, if you can’t handle it, wake up,” he concluded.

Co-host Susanna Reid said: “If you think it’s an excuse to send threats, there’s something wrong with you.”

Banjo recently thanked fans and fellow artists for their support amid the backlash from a small minority.

“We are feeling positive, proud, happy, confident and we stand by every single decision we made with that performance,” he said.  

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

“I am not going to give it any more time than it deserves, all of the nastiness and the racism shows exactly why this performance was needed and exactly why this conversation has now arisen from it.”