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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
AAAAABBBBBCCCCC · 16/04/2023 08:54

I've just watched it again. Amazing performance.

Nothing at all sexual about it. Stop sexualusing innocent black kids and looking for malice where there is absolutely none 😡

Ricco12 · 16/04/2023 08:55

That's African dancing , I don't think it's views the same way by the western world as it is by African people.

Fansandblankets · 16/04/2023 08:57

I thought they were amazing. I didn’t see anything sexual in their dancing, it didn’t cross my mind until seeing this post. They’re kids from the streets which is where ghetto comes from I’m guessing. Well deserved golden buzzer, one of the best dance acts I’ve seen on there. Their joy was infectious too .

Sux2buthen · 16/04/2023 09:01

OP are you the farting act, afraid of the competition?

I think if the people on here could stop sexualising children and then posting online about it, that would be good.

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:02

Fansandblankets · 16/04/2023 08:57

I thought they were amazing. I didn’t see anything sexual in their dancing, it didn’t cross my mind until seeing this post. They’re kids from the streets which is where ghetto comes from I’m guessing. Well deserved golden buzzer, one of the best dance acts I’ve seen on there. Their joy was infectious too .

This.

Rubyupbeat · 16/04/2023 09:13

Never seen BGT, so I googled this act and the story around them. I hope the orphanage gets lots of donations and quite honestly, there is nothing sexual about their dancing. We are getting sucked into seeing inappropriate sex everywhere, to be suspicious all the time. They are African, look at other Africans dance within their own culture.
Bloody ridiculous!

Climbles · 16/04/2023 09:15

rc22 · 15/04/2023 23:35

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.

Show quote history

The judge then said ‘yes! show it to me’ which felt very odd. The dance moves doesn’t concern me though.

BigFatMummyOnTheCeiling · 16/04/2023 09:18

Just watched the clip and they were brilliant! My mood has improved immensely. I didn’t see anything sexual about the performance at all.

peechie · 16/04/2023 09:24

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.

I don't think kids should be twerking etc just because it's cultural for adults

But

This wasn't the case here, I don't see how this is any different to any other kind of dancing- they did great and nothing inappropriate at all!

SheikYerboutiii · 16/04/2023 09:24

Weird to sexualise a type of cultural dancing.

It wasn’t even that good imo, they weren’t particularly in time, the little girl didn’t seem to move her feet much. Underwhelming, not deserving of the golden buzzer but certainly not sexual.

stayathomer · 16/04/2023 09:25

How does everyone suddenly know so much about African dance? And whether it is or not, the point is this was choreographed for a tv talent show, of course there’s a possibility it was done to be attention grabbing, it was choreographed by an adult. There’s an equal chance it is a cultural thing that’s just at odds with what we know. And to the people rolling their eyes: smacking someone on the bum, twerking and thrusting aren’t something you’d let your own kids do- I’d be waiting for a phone call from the school if they did it in the school talent show😂

GingereIIa · 16/04/2023 09:25

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.

Doesn't always map well in another country though. I personally didn't like it

Tarantullah · 16/04/2023 09:28

Didn't these talent shows used to be a platform for people who had never had any sort of platform before ergo giving them a chance? They're fantastic but have already had a level of success, sure they deserve more as they're super talented but why can't Simon put his hands in his own pockets to promote them or give them opportunities?

VincentVaguer · 16/04/2023 09:29

I guess implying little black kids are sexualised is something racists have done for hundreds of years.

Astrabees · 16/04/2023 09:40

It was a wonderful joyous performance, nothing sexualised about it at all. If anyone looked at the clip they would know they are called Ghetto Kids because that is the name of the collective they live in. For all the poverty the guy who looks after them seems to do a better job than our Social Services.

whatkatydid2013 · 16/04/2023 09:56

stayathomer · 16/04/2023 09:25

How does everyone suddenly know so much about African dance? And whether it is or not, the point is this was choreographed for a tv talent show, of course there’s a possibility it was done to be attention grabbing, it was choreographed by an adult. There’s an equal chance it is a cultural thing that’s just at odds with what we know. And to the people rolling their eyes: smacking someone on the bum, twerking and thrusting aren’t something you’d let your own kids do- I’d be waiting for a phone call from the school if they did it in the school talent show😂

Plenty of pretty similar moves on show at my 6/8 year old kids school fashion show where they do a bit of a pose mid/end of catwalk and at the younger ones street dance class. No one complained or thought the kids were sexualised 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sorry OP but think you are possibly turning into Mary Whitehouse on this one.

rattymol · 16/04/2023 10:23

In the nicest way yes you are turning into Mary Whitehouse.

Pyaar · 16/04/2023 10:27

I just watched it on YouTube and saw nothing wrong. Just a very small amount of bum wiggling as part of a longer routine with nothing else even slightly risque. YABU

LIZS · 16/04/2023 10:39

It made a positive contrast to some of the drilled kids dance acts who often appear. Those are often more sexualised with full make up and skimpy costumes on young kids.

IrregularChoiceFan · 16/04/2023 10:41

I didn't watch it live so just got it up on YouTube. It's just typical (and very well portrayed) African dancing. I really can't see anything wrong with it. Following some of the comments on this thread I was expecting the kids to be bump and grinding!

Crazyshihtzulady · 16/04/2023 11:23

MeinKraft · 16/04/2023 08:36

Just watched it as I didn't see BGT last night. I loved it! It was innocent and full of joy. I actually welled up a bit at the sweet little girl dancing at the end Blush

Why would you well up at someone dancing....?

Crazyshihtzulady · 16/04/2023 11:25

I didn't think it was inappropriate, didn't see what all the fuss was about though either.

DedicatedFollowerOfFashion84 · 16/04/2023 11:25

Surely it’s a cultural thing? I’m more uncomfortable about the idea that particular dance moves somehow sexualise children in the eyes of adults who don’t think it’s appropriate. Dance moves don’t sexualise kids, adults do. In the same way an 8 year old wearing a crop top isn’t “sexual”

IsaiditwasLighthearted · 16/04/2023 11:29

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 !

Yep

Ivebeenframed · 16/04/2023 11:31

I thought they were absolutely brilliant!
Nothing sexual about it, just traditional African dance - loved it!