To ask if there's something I'm missing about the allegedly "controversial" Diversity performance

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Diversity performed on Britain's Got Talent, a performance which incorporated a message about BLM. Their performance, as usual, was incredible and sent out some great messages. The video is below.

It's had 10,000 complaints. Why?! am I missing something? Did someone's nipple pop out or something? What is the basis of people's complaints? The only reason I can think is that some people (probably because they're part of the problem) don't like it when others point out that there's racism in the world? Boo hoo to them

“You clearly associate violence and gangs with Blackpool.“

Well... to be fair, I’ve been to Blackpool...

Sorry I know it was a serious post and obviously an autocorrect fail... I just couldn’t resist the cheap joke.

GlummyMcGlummerson

I don't think it's a ridiculous question to ask why.

Its only a ridiculous question if you are only prepared to accept answers that agree with your PoV.

tabulahrasa
The cheap joke was a welcome laugh

GetOffYourHighHorse
I wonder if if they work in their local communities, perhaps volunteering to 'raise awareness' about gang culture. Now that would be of benefit surely. They must do, perhaps they don't publicise it as they aren't attention seekers. Of course it's their responsibility!

Not long ago myself and another Rom poster were told if there was any such thing as decent Rom or Travelers then we should be spending our lives going round clearing up the mess that some types of Travelers had made!

It's just the same old same old with you lot isn't it?

'Feel that it’s somehow Diversity’s responsibility to work to get “gangs” off the street instead of creating the moving, outstanding performance that they did about 2020 '

Oh no sorry I didn't mean that! Not their responsibility at all, just to use their high profile and platform to help people rather than doing a dance about the police brutality in the US, gratuitously focusing on a man's death.

How is this gratuitous can you explain that. I think it’s just your opinion on that, you don’t know a single member of Diversity so you don’t really know whether they did this for some kind of fame and money - they are already famous

gratuitous
/ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
done without good reason; uncalled for.

They felt they had a good reason to do it.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Feel that it’s somehow Diversity’s responsibility to work to get “gangs” off the street instead of creating the moving, outstanding performance that they did about 2020 '

Oh no sorry I didn't mean that! Not their responsibility at all, just to use their high profile and platform to help people rather than doing a dance about the police brutality in the US, gratuitously focusing on a man's death.

You could say that about all art, that it's not "helping people". That Orwell should have "helped people" rather than writing novels and essays. Wilfred Owen should have "helped people" rather than writing war poetry.

Diversity are raising awareness, taking a stand and causing conversation. Giving a voice to people who don't have one, through the platform they have and the art they're known for. That's how change is initiated.

But it isn't just about one mans death and police brutality in the US, no matter how much you want it to be. And it is helping people, just not people like you, which it seems is why your dismissing it.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

Explain, in detail, what on Earth was GRATUITOUS? The George Floyd part was a tiny section, seconds worth, and it was not gratuitous in any way. Your focus upon how Diversity “gratuitously recreated a man’s violent death” is weird and way off, to the point where I’m genuinely questioning if you even watched the performance.

In all honesty I found the Kid SOS to the world thing more disturbing!

I am going to assume that Diversity felt that they couldn’t perform as a group with many BAME members without raising awareness.

My DD2 is doing history and media A Levels and BLM and George Floyd was the first topic discussed and looked at when they went back to school. This is an important part of human history it is not limited to the USA. So many lessons to be learnt for anyone in any country in the world. I’m glad it’s being discussed at school and on TV

If the brief Floyd reference in the dance (or the dance itself) offends someone more than the actual killing did, that's why Diversity had a reason to do it.

'If the brief Floyd reference in the dance (or the dance itself) offends someone more than the actual killing did, that's why Diversity had a reason to do it'

The murder of George Floyd didn't 'offend' me, it horrified me. Police brutality in the US is a problem that needs addressing.

Criticism of a dance doesn't equal racism no matter how much people want it to.

It's had 10,000 complaints. Why?! am I missing something?
It won't have been 10,000 people that watched it deciding individually to complain. It will be people rabble rousing on social media/right wing groups encouraging complaints. Some of the people incited to complain won't have even watched it.

@Gilead

I think that PP shouldve stopped at BLM is about defunding police and making white people slaves but they didn’t

@GlummyMcGlummerson have you changed your username from Patrick's Rum?
You have the same tone and write in a very similar manner.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'If the brief Floyd reference in the dance (or the dance itself) offends someone more than the actual killing did, that's why Diversity had a reason to do it'

The murder of George Floyd didn't 'offend' me, it horrified me. Police brutality in the US is a problem that needs addressing.

Criticism of a dance doesn't equal racism no matter how much people want it to.

The dance should pale in comparison with your horror at the murder.

The only black people who are allowed to make any statement in public about racism are those unsuccessful non-famous black people with no platform of any sort so that they can be easily ignored by the people who matter.

The famous ones with a platform need to be quiet because their message might actually squeak through and catch the attention of people who really don’t want to hear about that sort of thing.

[quote roseyroserose]@GlummyMcGlummerson have you changed your username from Patrick's Rum?
You have the same tone and write in a very similar manner.[/quote]
No, I've had this one for a while but never been Patrick's Rum.

Good to know there's 2 fabulous minds on MN though

At 64, I think most of these posts are attention-seeking. I deal with the person in front of me and I reflect back at them what I get. Because I live in the Celtic fringe of the UK, where are relatively few BAME visitors, and even fewer residents who are POC. I'd be horrified to be accused of racism, but I might suggest that visitors /walkers need to be prepared for the weather that this area can throw up in minutes. Like, you need a solid boots, a compass, and waterproofs, a torch and a decent map, which you can read properly, or otherwise you could blunder into a deep bog and drown there. Rough territory doesn't judge your race, colour or religion--- only your competence.

Criticism of a dance doesn't equal racism no matter how much people want it to
You're not just criticising a dance though.

You've argued systemic racism doesn't exist because Diversity have a platform and suggested that a BAME group using their platform to talk about change was attention seeking, and then pondered over whether they'd be sorting gang violence on their community (where to start on that one).

Did you ever reply to my question about whether you'd be telling David Attenborough off for using his platform to raise awareness about plastic polution? Do you think he should get back in his box? Do you think he should probably direct his attention to local litter picks?

Because right now it seems very much like you're annoyed that a black dance group have produced a piece of art that might make some people feel uncomfortable and then denied system racism exists.

All lives are equal in the face of weather and nature on Dartmoor, and only fools take risks.

My guess is the daily mail keep reporting on it so more and more people look it up on you tube who then go and complain about it. So the coverage is driving up the number of complaints if you see what I mean.

IMO highlighting that those who are paid to protect and serve should be doing just that should not be a controversial stance.

@vonny63

Because black people are only acceptable when providing light hearted entertainment. How dare they use there artistic self expression to amplify the abhorrent treatment of other black people!

This

Taking it back to dance, people do know that artists create their own content and perform/display their art as they choose? It’s the entire point of it!

I don’t think people actually even understand the basic concept of dance and performing arts, let alone racism so a very lose lose situation!