Ashley Banjo says the backlash over Diversity's powerful 'Britain's Got Talent' performance shows why the routine was so important.
Ashley Banjo
The stand-in judge and dancer has opened up after more than 15,000 people complained to regulator Ofcom about the Black Lives Matter dance, and he explained he has been receiving racial abuse and threats over the past week.
Speaking to his followers in a lengthy Instagram video, he said: "A lot of the comments showed just why this performance was needed.
"Racism is very real. I knew it before, and I definitely know it now. After this performance, everything that we've received it's been overwhelming in a negative sense sometimes.
"It's been tough ... I'm feeling so happy that we opened it up and if that's what it takes it's a price I'm willing to pay."
Despite the criticism, Ashley was delighted to be back on the stage which made him and the dance troupe famous, and to use their platform in a positive way.
He explained: "Trust me, I'm right in the centre of it, and the negativity is the minority. The positive response has been huge.
"So thank you so much to everyone who has supported, shown love and stood by what we did. We're feeling positive, proud, happy, confident and we stand by every single decision that we made with that performance.
"If I'm honest with you, to be able to stand on the very stage that launched Diversity into the limelight, as a judge on the panel standing up for something we believe in, using our art to speak a nationwide conversation.
"What more could I ask for as a creative, as an artist? To entertain, to get people talking, to cause emotion, that is everything I could ask for. It feels like the biggest gift ever. So I'm proud and I stand by it. Thank you to everyone who has shown positivity."
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