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

If they'd asked for donations, people would be complaining that it was the wrong platform to try to guilt viewers into parting with money. If you don't want to hear it, you'll come up with any amount of faux moralising rubbish to try to put them in the wrong.

If you don't want to hear their message, and a depressing number of people don't, then you'll always be able to come up with a list of things they Should Have Done. They're a famous dance troupe, they gave a message through dance. That's what they do. There's no right platform when people are determined to avoid the message.

@Jillyhilly

People have tried to point out to you that it’s just an assumption and does appear to be incorrect. Diversity are free to reference a movement that they clearly feel matters to them and is important, at no point have they or anyone else asked you to donate money or support defunding the police or agree with BLM. They were doing something that mattered to THEM. It was their dance it does not belong to anyone else. You don’t have the right to tell any performer to censor their beliefs and feelings, no one does. The concept that performers like diversity are owned by the public and should not step outside of their lane of light entertainment is really distasteful.

It is not relevant the ethnicities of who complained it is that it is not seen as acceptable for BAME people to voice any of their views concerns or feelings on this without it being automatically linked back to what you view as the deepest darkest section of problematic political movement.

People have clearly admitted to complaining because they felt it was inappropriate, uninteresting and irrelevant. They did not want their lovely Saturday night sullied by something distasteful and apparently gratuitous

Yes I see your point noblegiraffe that makes sense of course.

I suppose where the controversy comes in is - who gets ownership of the movement?
Theres very few who would disagree with the notion that Black Lives do matter.
Most people would welcome investigations into police brutality.
Many would support increased funding into social programmes that aim to reduce crime
Few would support abolishing the police entirely.

But all those positions fall under different 'BLM branded' groups, for want of a better phrase.

So theres room for controversy there, it's all conflated.

Wherever she actually said it or not Alesha is getting some abuse on twitter for saying she would quit if ITV apologise...such lovely people...

Also moans how Ashley didn't apologise or mention it...the semis are pre recorded....

Because some people only want black or brown people to shuck and jive for them.

I haven't RTFT.
I think the proformance was outstanding a powerful message sent.
It shouldn't need to be said but unfortunately in this crazy world it does.
Horrified by a recent incident in Dublin a house fire in Balbriggan that far rights used to rally hate insisting the young black men in the area torched the home.
It was all over the news caused riots and now it turned out to be an electrical fire.
My niece is with her black boyfriend two years she's shocked at the underlying racism he gets in daily situations.
When he says he is from Dublin people ask "Where are your parents from" ignorance is bliss. BLM.

www.thejournal.ie/balbriggan-far-right-black-gangs-5180007-Sep2020/

A lot of people seem outraged by BLM demands to defund the police

I don't think they actually understand what is meant

They don't say abolish the police
Let there be anarchy

They are calling for a reassessment of where the money goes
We spend more on the criminal justice system than we do on primary education, social care or housing.

The first things to get cut in a recession are youth centres, community groups and libraries

Maybe if less was spent on banging people up in prisons that only make matters worse in most cases and more was spent on preventing young people getting sucked into criminal activity by giving them better opportunities in life then the world would be a better place

That is what defund the police means

Defund the police is an American message and another case of people trying to import US political messaging to the UK without properly engaging with it. The police in the US work very differently to here. In England we have policing by consent.

The BLMUK GoFundMe page, currently at 1.2 million £ states it is working towards the abolition of the police.

Well 1.2 million shall not only pay for abolition of the police but shall have enough cash left to overthrow the government

We are doomed 😬

Really 7days, can you post a link?

No, thought not.

Its there dancingbear. I'm shit at linking on the phone.
It's the 3rd section down under the heading How We Will Spend the Funds.

I specifically looked for a thread to try understand people's reasoning behind the complaints as having watched it I thought it was powerful, beautiful and very moving.
It's an important message and no way the 'depiction of murder' people are claiming it to be.
I see people commenting that it was too political for a light family entertainment show. I'd ask them, where were the complaints when the shadow dancers did their beautiful dance about war where the man was shot under the tree, his body raised in tribute and headstones shown in next scene? Why is one non-offensive because it was about our "heroes" and one offensive because it was a BLM message.
I'm disgusted that people complained about this to be honest and applaud Diversity for this performance!

First time I've seen that video. Thanks OP for posting. It made all my hairs stand up.

'I thought the dance was powerful and emotive, completely opposing views to you @GetOffYourHighHorse.You do seem to have a little fan club who follow you around the board arguing with whatever you post though, are you someone famous?!'

I do don't I?

You are of course allowed to oppose my views. However, I do believe we need to get away from this knee jerk 'racist!' Accusation when someone is disagreeing for valid reasons.

'Defund the police is an American message and another case of people trying to import US political messaging to the UK without properly engaging with it. The police in the US work very differently to here. In England we have policing by consent.'

Oh well done noble! that is exactly what I've been saying.

'If there children are fair minded like a lot of young people are they will register their parent is a bigot/a racist and know to keep some of their private lives away from them'

'The poster will then be complaining to all and sundry in a decade or so why their son/daughter refuses to bring their partner from another ethnicity or their mixed ethnicity grandchildren over to see them.'

Our family have had BAME and mixed race girlfrinds/ boyfriends, all very welcome. Luckily our kids are intelligent and understand objecting to Diversity doing a dance that recreated a violent act in the US does not equal racism. We've brought them up to be tolerant, inclusive and to allow others an opinion. HTH.

You are of course allowed to oppose my views. However, I do believe we need to get away from this knee jerk 'racist!' Accusation when someone is disagreeing for valid reasons.

I think free speech allows us to form our own views on people, thanks. I will assess people more on what they say than what they do. If someone is all over a website shouting down an anti-racist organisation or movement, based on claimed reasons I consider to be wafer thin, then I will draw my own inference from that. If you don't like that, tough.

Our family have had BAME and mixed race girlfrinds/ boyfriends, all very welcome.

Use of past tense is quite interesting. I wonder how welcome they felt?

Someone will need to explain to me what/who replaces the police

They don't replace it completely. Defunding means that funding is moved from policing to other resources (mental health services, social services etc.) with a view to achieving better, and hopefully non-racist outcomes. The police themselves complain that they're having to do much of this kind of stuff, which is of course outside their core remit, so even though BLM presents it as a 'radical' solution, it's not that far out there really.

'wouldn’t assume that anyone holding a banner saying Black Lives Matter was a member of the organisation, or even aware of them.'

Well, to use a popular phrase, they should educate themselves. Sasha Johnson a UK BLM movement leader has been suspended from twitter for her offensive tweets. Ignorance is no excuse. One can't say they support BLM, oh hang on, but not that BLM. Well they can and do but it makes them look a bit silly.

'Use of past tense is quite interesting. I wonder how welcome they felt?'

What, must everyone marry their first bf/gf? Bit of an odd view. You must allow your dc a bit of freedom Bear, don't be buying a hat as soon as they start dating will you.

Very welcome, they stay in touch to this day.

Well, to use a popular phrase, they should educate themselves.

People with privilege sarcastically telling people without to 'educate themselves' is fucking offensive.

I agree with the confusion. I watched it and didn’t understand what the complaints were about. Who could seriously disagree with a dance protesting the cold blooded killing of a Blackman by a policeman. Surely no one
I’ve talked to my (white) preschooler about it. I think children need to understand that racism exists and has horrific consequences.

Oh well done noble! that is exactly what I've been saying.

Literally no idea why you’ve picked up on my comment and made it about you.

One can't say they support BLM, oh hang on, but not that BLM

Diversity said that black lives matter. This is a statement of fact and a popular slogan used by many protesters with no connection to the organisation. I didn’t see any message in their dance suggesting an affiliation.

I also said that by trying to inextricably link the powerful slogan (and it has certainly grown beyond it) to the more controversial organisation, certain people are seeking to prevent other people from saying black lives matter at all.