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AIBU?

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Original poster

Willing to be shot down in flames: Ghetto Kids on BGT

134 replies

SmugglersHaunt · 15/04/2023 23:08

I haven’t watched BGT in ages (the alarming changes in the faces of B. Tonioli and S. Cowell deserve a separate thread alone).

I watched tonight for the first time in years and saw Ghetto Kids, who were a very good dance act and have deservedly been given praise and have a moving backstory (as per) - but I found myself incredibly uncomfortable watching young kids twerking and dancing in what seemed at times quite an inappropriate way for their age. Have I morphed into Mary Whitehouse?

OP posts:
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6
crazeecatlady · 15/04/2023 23:12

@SmugglersHaunt totally agree😞

Mars27 · 15/04/2023 23:19

I know this kind of dance/moves it's common in developing countries (think also about Samba in Brazil) but I don't like it. Children shouldn't dance like that. Like I said, it's common for them and they probably see no malice in that but it does make me feel uncomfortable

VincentVaguer · 15/04/2023 23:20

I thought they were great 🤷‍♀️

ApplesandPares · 15/04/2023 23:21

Aside from that, I’m not sure the word ‘ghetto’ was a great choice.

Vinniepolis · 15/04/2023 23:23

They’re African kids - the dance moves, the music - it’s how it is (and was, when I lived there 25 years ago). I don’t think it translates well in the West though as people are so quick to see something sexual in the moves.

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 23:25

I thought they were brilliant. Didn't see anything inappropriate about it, at all. I'm African, though, and we don't see this kind of dancing as sexualised (well none of my family do anyway). It's the norm. We use our whole bodies to dance, including our asses.

Rowthe · 15/04/2023 23:25

I think they were great!

The dance moves seemed specific to their place of origin.

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 23:25

Vinniepolis · 15/04/2023 23:23

They’re African kids - the dance moves, the music - it’s how it is (and was, when I lived there 25 years ago). I don’t think it translates well in the West though as people are so quick to see something sexual in the moves.

Cross posted. Thank you for this.

Thedogscollar · 15/04/2023 23:26

They were fantastic. It was African dancing nothing at all wrong with it. People see what they want to see sometimes.

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 23:28

ApplesandPares · 15/04/2023 23:21

Aside from that, I’m not sure the word ‘ghetto’ was a great choice.

They're from a slum. They're showing the world that you can be from a 'ghetto' and still live your life to the fullest, be talented and succeed. I think the name is perfect.

RiktheButler · 15/04/2023 23:32

SmugglersHaunt · 15/04/2023 23:08

I haven’t watched BGT in ages (the alarming changes in the faces of B. Tonioli and S. Cowell deserve a separate thread alone).

I watched tonight for the first time in years and saw Ghetto Kids, who were a very good dance act and have deservedly been given praise and have a moving backstory (as per) - but I found myself incredibly uncomfortable watching young kids twerking and dancing in what seemed at times quite an inappropriate way for their age. Have I morphed into Mary Whitehouse?

I was quite uncomfortable watching it, maybe African dancing doesn't translate to a western audience

I'm more uncomfortable that in true BGT tradition they're already established and internationally famous because that's how talent shows work. Apparently.

Mars27 · 15/04/2023 23:32

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 23:25

I thought they were brilliant. Didn't see anything inappropriate about it, at all. I'm African, though, and we don't see this kind of dancing as sexualised (well none of my family do anyway). It's the norm. We use our whole bodies to dance, including our asses.

They were brilliant and I understand it's common and traditional for you but I just don't like seeing children performing that kind of dance. Culture clash it may be but in some countries in Latin America for example there's already some pushback from adults against children performing overly sexualised dance moves even though it's the "norm"

DesVeneers · 15/04/2023 23:33

I am normally very cynical with this sort of thing but no I disagree in this case, it's African dance, it's fabulous and the kids are great. Never mind if it translates well or not this kind of dance is ancient and cultural and probably very human on a fundamental level. Many years ago I took part in various African dance workshops in France with live drummers (when it wouldn't have been yet seen as possibly cultural appropriation) and I'd say it was fantastically enjoyable. I was a bit rubbish at it though This dance and group is authentic.

rc22 · 15/04/2023 23:35

Vinniepolis · 15/04/2023 23:23

They’re African kids - the dance moves, the music - it’s how it is (and was, when I lived there 25 years ago). I don’t think it translates well in the West though as people are so quick to see something sexual in the moves.

This.
Also, at one point, I think one of the boys took his shirt of which is fine but lots of the audience were cheering and whistling which made me a little uncomfortable.

ApplesandPares · 15/04/2023 23:39

UnicornBoom · 15/04/2023 23:28

They're from a slum. They're showing the world that you can be from a 'ghetto' and still live your life to the fullest, be talented and succeed. I think the name is perfect.

Show quote history

Fair enough, it actually doesn’t bother me, but it might be contentious for them if their success continues, which would be a shame.

MavisMcMinty · 15/04/2023 23:40

You made me google, and I think they’re brilliant! It’s as though you caught just 30 seconds of their performance and completely missed their story and everything else that was so joyous about this dance group.

TomatoSandwiches · 15/04/2023 23:44

YABU and sound quite uncultured tbh.

Prescottdanni123 · 15/04/2023 23:47

It is the way they dance. We love music and dancing this country but in every African country I've been to they LOVE music and dancing. They thrown themselves into it with their whole body. It is not meant to be sexual. They don't see it as sexual.

BrightBlueHue · 15/04/2023 23:51

Slightly different opinion here.

I thought the boys danced really well but thought the girls weren’t in the same league and definitely didn’t deserve the golden buzzer! Sorry, just my opinion.

Seeusernamehistoryyy · 15/04/2023 23:53

I agree with you OP.

As fantastic a group as they are, and there's no denying that, I just can't help but feel uncomfortable watching a child dance like that.

ZiriForEver · 16/04/2023 00:27

Ok, I checked the full clip.
I won't say it crossed any line - they are normally clothed, and it wasn't that dumb sexy twerking, just used full body in their moves.

I would consider a young gymnast in a standard, swimming costume shaped leotard much more concerning.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 16/04/2023 00:45

I was more uncomfortable watching the farting man. Who on earth thought that that was prime time viewing material?
Ghetto kids were great, didn’t see anything wrong.

cherry2727 · 16/04/2023 00:56

It's a cultural native dance move and not at any point was it sexualised ! Over the last few years this cultural dance move has been sexualised by the west and hence a negative connotation attached ! African dance moves all tell a story and dates back to cultural stories etc . Educate yourself before coming across soo heavily judgemental !

cherry2727 · 16/04/2023 00:59

I would consider a young gymnast in a standard, swimming costume shaped leotard much more concerning.

This ^

I went shopping today and was shocked at the number of young girls , under the age of 9, wearing tight cycle shorts and sports bras with their tummy exposed! I find this a lot more concerning and uncomfortable and definitely something to talk about as opposed to a dance group performing a few seconds of a twerk dance move!

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