Prince Harry defends Diversity’s BLM dance in BGT row calling it ‘most amazing display’ after chat with Ashley Banjo

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PRINCE Harry has defended Diversity in the row over their Black Lives Matter dance on BGT calling it the “most amazing display” after a chat with Ashley Banjo.

Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to Banjo “straight after” the dance group was bombarded with abuse for their routine – with more than 22,000 people complaining to OfCom.

Prince Harry has defended Diversity in the row over their Black Lives Matter dance on BGT
Part of Diversity’s performance involved dancers taking the knee, which has been seen as a marker of supporting Black Lives Matter
During the performance a white actor dressed as a police officer kneeled on star Banjo’s neck

During the performance a white actor dressed as a police officer kneeled on star Banjo’s neck.

The choreography, from a show earlier this month, was a tribute to the death of George Floyd, who was killed by cops in Minneapolis in May.

Harry told the Evening Standard: “We spoke to Ashley Banjo a few weeks ago, straight after the Britain’s Got Talent situation.

“And that in itself, I am sure even me talking about it will be controversial, but the reality of it is he and his team of guys put on the most amazing display.

“We had such a good chat with Ashley. He was really strong, he felt great about it, but at the same time he was concerned because of the reaction.

“It was a real surprise that there was what? 1,100 complaints after the show and then three days of hype it became 20 or 25,000.

“I am very glad Ofcom made the decision that they did but that in itself kind of proves how much this conversation needs to continue.”

The Prince’s comments came during a “candid” interview with the Standard where the Sussexes gushed over their new life in the US since qutting the Royal family.

RACE BLAST

The Duke and Duchess also discussed racism and said young people of colour would be held back “as long as structural racism exists”.

Prince Harry today spoke of his own “awakening” around the lack of opportunities ethnic minorities face.

The sixth-in-line to the throne said: “Because I wasn’t aware of so many of the issues and so many of the problems within the UK and also globally as well. I thought I did but I didn’t.”

He gave an example of white dolls sold in shops – saying society was in a world “created by white people for white people.”

Previously, Meghan has revealed how dad Thomas bought two sets of Barbie doll sets to make a biracial family when she was made to feel upset over her heritage.

And Prince Harry said: “It is not about pointing the finger, it is not about blame. I will be the first person to say, again, this is about learning.

“And about how we can make it better. I think it is a really exciting time in British culture and British history, and in world culture.

“This is a real moment that we should be grasping and actually celebrating. Because no one else has managed to do this before us.”

Prince Harry, who moved to the US with Meghan earlier this year, said that while London was celebrated as a diverse city but added “it doesn’t feel as diverse as it actually is”.

And while they are living across the pond, the couple are continuing to keep in touch with the UK.

NEW LIFE

And he said that despite the distance, he and Meghan were saying in touch with charities and organisations “as much as humanly possible.”

Meghan added: “Everyone has been accustomed to what it means to be distanced.

“The impact of that, whether it is across the Pond or across town, you are still for the most part through a computer screen.

“We have all had to adapt to how we can have the most impact as possible within the constraints of what has happening with Covid-19.

“Like all of you, we are doing the best that we can and hoping that our passion and our commitment is still felt as it certainly hasn’t wavered.

The duchess – who recently said the coronavirus pandemic was forcing people to go through a “reset” – also spoke out about the Black Lives Matter protests.

The former Suits actress said that the demonstrations had been “inflammatory” for many but said many peaceful protests were simply about wanting recognition.

She said: “That is a beautiful thing.

“While it has been challenging for a lot of people certainly having to make this reckoning of historical significance that has got people to the place that they are, that is uncomfortable for people. We recognise that. It is uncomfortable for us.”

Speaking from their new £11million home in Santa Barbara, California, the couple said they were “doing well”.

And Meghan said: “We are doing well. [Archie] is so good. We are very lucky with our little one. He is just so busy, he is all over the place. He keeps us on our toes. We are just so lucky.”

For the Zoom chat, Meghan, 39, wore a long-sleeved brown asymmetrical top with leather trousers.

Harry, 36, wore a navy blue collared shirt and dark grey trousers.

The couple appeared relaxed in the interview, grinning when their beagle Guy jumped on the sofa.

The chat comes just days after Meghan Markle gave a 15-minute interview with Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Zoom chat.

The duchess could have raked in £33,000 a minute at the 15-minute at the £10k-a-head event on Tuesday.

She also recently lost a court battle to block claims she allegedly co-operated with the authors of Finding Freedom in her privacy row with the publishers of the Mail on Sunday.

Harry and Meghan spoke about their new life in the US during a candid video interview
Meghan Markle spoke about their new life in the US