Ashley Banjo laughed off Diversity’s recent Ofcom complaints on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent final when he responded to comedian Nabil Abdulrashid’s routine.
The talent judge, 32, told the virtual audience he ‘knows what it’s like to get a few complaints’ after Nabil joked about the programme becoming one of the most complained about TV shows of the decade.
During his routine, the comedian addressed his previous performance getting 733 Ofcom complaints and Diversity receiving 24,500 as he hit back at critics.
Defiant: Ashley Banjo laughed off Diversity’s recent Ofcom complaints on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent final when he responded to comedian Nabil Abdulrashid’s routine
Nabil divided viewers with the routine with some branding the performance ‘too political’ for a Saturday night family show while others praised him for ‘pushing boundaries’.
In his performance on Saturday, Nabil began his divisive act by addressing his and Diversity’s Ofcom complaints.
Making reference of climate change and the people who have complained, he said: ‘How else do you explain so many snowflakes in October?’ he also said he was surprised that complainers could even write.
Talking about his own Ofcom drama, he said: ‘That’s what upsets me, what did I say to offend anybody.
Complaints: The talent judge, 32, told the virtual audience he ‘knows what it’s like to get a few complaints’ after Nabil joked about the programme becoming one of the most complained about TV shows of the decade
Response: In response to his performance Ashley said of Diversity’s 24,500 Ofcom complaints: ‘I know what it’s like to get a few complaints!’
‘You think I came out here and said something really inflammatory like Winston Churchill was black. By the way, he was!’
After the routine, Ashley said: ‘I know what it’s like to get a few complaints! There are two ways you can react, you can bend to pressure or you can be unapologetically yourself.
‘And it’s pretty obvious to me which one you chose! It’s not even about being Black it’s about being unapologetically you.’
Divisive: Nabil divided viewers with the routine with some branding the performance ‘too political’ for a Saturday night show while others praised him for ‘pushing boundaries’
While fellow judge, Amanda Holden, also addressed the backlash she had received on the show after one daring gown sparked 235 complaints.
Ashley’s joke was a reference to his dance group Diversity’s recent Black Lives Matter inspired routine which received 24,500 complaints from the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.
ITV ‘stood with Diversity’ as they featured adverts in national newspapers in support of the controversial dance while Ofcom announced they will not investigate the complaints any further.
The act saw group leader Ashley have a white man’s knee leaning on his neck, in reference to the death of black man George Floyd earlier this year.
Reaction: Some fans of the show were quick to respond on Twitter, with many writing that the act was far too ‘political’
Nabil’s routine divided fans with some complaining it was too ‘political’ for a Saturday night family show while others praised him for ‘taking risks’.
One person wrote: ‘Well this is controversial!!! @Ofcom get on this!! This is NOT comedy @BGT This is NOT talent!! This is NOT funny!!’
Another said: ‘Not funny at all just a political rant’, as someone else responded: ‘When did BGT become a platform for political views?’
However others gave the routine more positive feedback, with one saying: ‘This act is actually important for the show, nothings too political, if you’re getting pressed you just can’t handle your privilege being questioned #BGT’.
Another wrote: ‘So many people complaining about Nabil’s set and saying it was offensive…yes he used comedy to highlight real issues and if that made you feel uncomfortable/horrified/offended, then the problem is with you and not with his act! #bgtfinal’.
Praise: However others gave the routine more positive feedback with some viewers praising the comedian for ‘pushing boundaries’
Alesha Dixon said in her positive feedback that he pushed the boundaries, while Amanda said he was funnier than in his semi final.
It comes after Nabil received 733 complaints objecting to last week’s Britain’s Got Talent routine, which saw him tackling racism in his act.
The funnyman, 35, wowed the judges with his act that saw him joke about racism, with one moment seeing him make a joke about how his ‘white liberal left-wing friend’ told him to ‘forget he was black’ so that he wouldn’t be subjected to racism.
During his performance, he also quipped: ‘People watching will think that it’s another of one of those Black Lives Matter guys doing jokes about stop and search.
‘No, it’s a joke about being fat. Big Nastie and I are both fat, we just both happen to be black too. Don’t throw in the race card guys!’
Routine: Making reference of climate change and the people who have complained, he said: ‘How else do you explain so many snowflakes in October?’
The judges were impressed by his performance, with Alesha, 40, remarking: ‘I really enjoyed it, the reason I picked you as my Golden Buzzer is you’re quite edgy, you’re different, and you’re that guy.
‘It’s okay to feel a bit uncomfortable with comedy, I think that’s what comedy is about and I think you’re very brave to take on the subject of racism, very poignant right now.’
She went on: ‘I think we all need to learn to laugh a bit more and have fun so well done, it was great.’
Ashley, who recently admitted he and his fellow Diversity members were subjected to racist abuse following their performance in the show’s first semi final, called Nabil’s act ‘legendary.’
Hitting back! While fellow judge, Amanda Holden, also addressed the backlash she had received on the show after one daring gown sparked 235 complaints
Reaction: It comes after Nabil received 733 complaints objecting to last week’s Britain’s Got Talent routine, which saw him tackling racism in his act (pictured)
After being voted through to the final, Nabil was emotional and claimed he was happy he had made it through because it ‘meant a lot’ as he represented a lot of people.
Nabil later revealed he’s been sent death threats after his act in which he mocked racists garnered 733 Ofcom complaints.
He tweeted after the show: ‘Funny how I made fun of lefties too but so far it’s not them wishing death on me or sending me abuse.. hmmm who were the snowflakes again?’
Routine: The act saw group leader Ashley have a white man’s knee leaning on his neck, in reference to the death of black man George Floyd earlier this year
He also penned: ‘I promise to do no jokes about racism or Islamophobia in my final if I experience no racism or Islamophobia between now and then.
‘They want to complain? Ok, I’ll give them something to complain about.. TUNE IN ON SATURDAY.’
Britain’s Got Talent has become the most complained about TV show of the decade.
Support: ITV ‘stood with Diversity’ as they featured adverts in national newspapers in support of the controversial dance while Ofcom announced they will not investigate the complaints any further
The ITV talent show has attracted a whopping 28,000 Ofcom complaints from this series alone, with Diversity’s Black Lives Matter inspired routine racking up the most criticism.
While viewers also complained about Amanda Holden’s racy dresses and controversial auditions from contestants.
The current series, which concluded on Saturday, has seen 27,898 people make official complaints to the media regulator, with the amount jumping ahead of the previous most complained about show, Celebrity Big Brother.
The now defunct Channel 5 reality show saw 25,372 people protest to Ofcom after actress Roxanne Pallett wrongfully accused actor Ryan Thomas of maliciously hitting her.
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Complaints: Britain’s Got Talent has become the most complained about TV show of the decade with Amanda’s racy dress (pictured) receiving 235 complaints
