Adjoa Andoh says the balcony was ‘terribly white’
Adjoa Andoh, who portrays Lady Danbury in Netflix hit Bridgerton, joined ITV hosts Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham on Saturday after the official Coronation of King Charles III.
The ongoing coverage saw several guest stars giving their view of the historic occasion, but the actress’ remarks that the Royal Family members gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony had been “terribly white,” sparked a huge backlash.
The 60-year-old has since clarified what she had meant by the comments, explaining she “didn’t mean to upset anyone”.
However, many outraged viewers have shared that they have made official complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom.
Throughout the weekend, TV stations dedicated the day’s coverage to the momentous event.
Speaking after the ceremony, Adjoa told Tom and Julie: “We’ve gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony,” as those around her appeared bewildered.
“I was very struck by that,” she continued, adding: “I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking, ‘What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?'”
Fellow guest Myleene Klass glared at her ITV co-star with a mystified look on her face as she spoke.
As several took to social media to slam the actress’ comments over the weekend, she later addressed the backlash.
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Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Monday, she explained: “I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going: ‘Oh it’s so white!’ because the day had been so mixed.”
She added: “I didn’t mean to upset anybody.”
It seems Ofcom will have received a lot of complaints though, with many sharing that they had issued one themselves.
Twitter user @thomas2279 wrote: “@andoh_adjoa So disgusted we complained towards #ofcom, time for many said people to boycott your work.”
@LisaGri63922378 added: “@Ofcom This is where we decide if we are woke or not. Comments made by @andoh_adjoa were racist, end of story, it is not ok!! A white person would not get away with a ‘didn’t mean to offend’, there would be UPROAR!! How exactly are a white family supposed to avoid being white?!”
@ba8788 asked: “@Ofcom can I ask what will be done regarding @andoh_adjoa’s racist comments during the coverage of the coronation?”
@richard_pascall penned: “@ITV after the comments made by Adjoa Andoh regarding the Royal Family on the balcony I have complained to Ofcom.”
Regular ITV guest Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who frequently appears on Good Morning Britain, tweeted a supportive message defending the actress.
She wrote: “#AdjoaAndoh told no lies in factual observation of ‘terribly White’ (literal & symbolic) Buckingham Palace balcony at #Coronation in contrast to tokenism of race diversity at Westminster Abbey & got branded ‘racist’.
“White people’s false equivalence of racism is laughable.”
The official number of Ofcom complaints hasn’t yet been released, with the regulator publishing details of the week’s incidents that attract more than 50 complaints each Wednesday.
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