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Original poster

So... Rochelle Humes?

76 replies

Cocoabutterkim · 07/02/2021 15:16

So about time we had some prime time coverage of black women’s experience in pregnancy and childbirth. Hopefully the shocking stats can open up the debate further into the overall experience of black women with healthcare in the UK.
But will you still watch it, now that it’ll be presented by Rochelle Humes instead of Candice Brathwaite?

OP posts:
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7
C130 · 07/02/2021 15:39

I was not aware of this programme coming on tv. Was Candice Brathwaite meant to present it, and now is not? Why is this?

Starseeking · 07/02/2021 16:29

I was just thinking about this.

I will watch it, irrespective of the whitewashing, as it's such an important topic to Black women.

ihatethecold · 07/02/2021 16:30

Is Rochelle Humes not a black woman?

Original poster
Cocoabutterkim · 07/02/2021 16:31

Looks like CB was working on it for a while and expected to be presenting. RH has just announced she is presenting, lots of talk of colourism being at play on Twitter

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 16:44

Yeah, it looks like that @Cocoabutterkim.

As much as I'd like to give RH the benefit of any doubt here, I think many people (including myself) just see this as yet another example of colourism/whitewashing in media. Are we black women not allowed to speak up for ourselves? I do wonder if mixed raced (mixed with black) women are included as 'black' in the death rate statistics though... I should look.

I'll be watching regardless.

JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 16:48

Maybe we're only supposed to discuss our issues whenever the loose-women panel is all black Grin

Original poster
Cocoabutterkim · 07/02/2021 16:52

I’m not sure it’s easy to drill down into maternal death rate for black/other, mixed race women. The stats for be seen just show mixed race as 1 group which is the second highest after black women.

OP posts:
ImperialLeather00 · 07/02/2021 16:55

Why was CB replaced???
Does seem like coloursim at its finest. I like both women and think it’s important they aren’t blamed or turned against eachother.
Someone however does need to explain this...

feistymumma · 07/02/2021 16:55

As long as the issue is getting g widespread coverage then that is all that matters. RC is mixed and is therefore half black. I think people are now getting so distracted with the colorism debate that the main focus of the documentary will now be tarnished. I cannot comment on the colorism aspect as Candice has just said the production team working with RC is different from the one she was in talks with.

DayBath · 07/02/2021 16:58

@ihatethecold

Is Rochelle Humes not a black woman?
Half Jamaican according to Wikipedia. I wondered this too...is she not allowed to present a show about black women's issues because she isn't considered 'properly black'??? Confused Sorry to the OP if I've got that wrong but that seems to be the implication of the thread.
Zet1 · 07/02/2021 17:01

The statement Candice has put out implies there are two different production companies tackling this issue. From what I have read Rochelle did not replace Candice. Very confusing

Original poster
Cocoabutterkim · 07/02/2021 17:01

Definitely not my opinion that RH can’t present a sow like this

OP posts:
debbrianna · 07/02/2021 17:02

It's not about accepting Rochelle as black. It's about the show being taken away from someone who gas been doing research on the matter for a very long time. Secondly, Rochelle doesn't believe there is a problem with nhs regarding black women. But it's an issue she would like to highlight.. go figure!

NattyDiamondDoll · 07/02/2021 17:04

Wonder if we will ever know the real truth but it does seem that Candice thought she would be presenting. I'm mixed race myself but I can't help wondering if colourism IS at play here. Despite making advances, there still seems to be the trend for lighter skinned women to be the "face" of black women on TV.
As someone else has said I really like both women and hope this doesn't cause any bad feelings between them.

DayBath · 07/02/2021 17:05

Ah ok, thanks for clarifying

Original poster
Cocoabutterkim · 07/02/2021 17:06

I’m interested in the outcome and hope the show reaches as many people as possible to highlight the situation.
Just read CB statement and am glad to see it’s a different show. I definitely felt uncomfortable with the situation as originally presented. I don’t want to see a dark skinned black woman replaced by a light skinned black woman because people feel that the light skinned woman is more relatable!

OP posts:
feistymumma · 07/02/2021 17:10

@debbrianna

It's not about accepting Rochelle as black. It's about the show being taken away from someone who gas been doing research on the matter for a very long time. Secondly, Rochelle doesn't believe there is a problem with nhs regarding black women. But it's an issue she would like to highlight.. go figure!
But Candice relied on other people's research as well. Fair play to her for bringing this to the forefront in her book but that doesn't give her monopoly on presenting it I don't think. This whole drama has descended into colorism debate and I actually feel sorry for RC with the hate she is getting.
debbrianna · 07/02/2021 17:11

This is what CB has said..

So... Rochelle Humes?
So... Rochelle Humes?
JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 17:11

The actual statement released is interesting...

So... Rochelle Humes?
So... Rochelle Humes?
JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 17:12

Snap lol.

debbrianna · 07/02/2021 17:12

😊

feistymumma · 07/02/2021 17:14

So what is the commotion about really if these are two different production companies?

yvanka · 07/02/2021 17:21

I watched Candice's Instagram video and didn't think she had a leg to stand on. She never signed a contract, they decided to give the job to someone else, it happens. If her skin colour was an issue then she would never have been considered for it in the first place.

JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 17:25

If we take CB away from this, we still have a problem. They acknowledge RH is removed from this situation. I would question why it is thought of as a good idea to approach such a topic in this way. If they'd chosen Joanna Lumley, I would still wonder why a (non mixed) black woman presenter instead.

JayDot500 · 07/02/2021 17:26

Why not a black woman presenter instead?*