Britain’s Got Talent judge issues ultimatum after supporting controversial performance by Diversity on the show
London:Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon has said she will quit the show if ITV apologises over a Black Lives Matter-inspired dance.
Sources on the show say the 41-year-old is firmly against bosses taking anything other than a supportive stance over the politically charged performance by Diversity last weekend.
The routine, which recreated the killing in the US of George Floyd in May, has so far led to more than 15,500 complaints to Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator.
Dixon, who has spoken publicly about being subjected to racism, told friends that ITV should not offer an apology and would consider her role on the show if it did.
In the performance, Diversity’s choreographer Ashley Banjo – who is also sitting in as a judge for the injured Simon Cowell – is pinned down as a white ‘police officer’ kneels on his neck.
He later said the routine was intended to ‘express how the events of this year have made us feel’.
Last night, a source said: ‘Alesha is absolutely furious and doesn’t think anyone should be apologising for anything.
Ashley is in a complete state over all of this and it has knocked his confidence. Alesha has spent the week supporting him and building him back up.
‘She is very sad about it all but staunchly stands by the dance. It is something she feels incredibly passionate about so if ITV were to say sorry, it would be understandably hard for her to continue.’
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