ITV has been hit with over 4,000 Ofcom complaints after Adjoa Andoh's 'terribly white' Coronation comments.
The Bridgerton star appeared on ITV on the day of the Coronation, where she was speaking about the royals on the balcony and commented how the Buckingham Palace balcony was "terribly white". She later insisted she didn't intend to cause offence after her comments about the Royal Family, which sparked some backlash online.
The ITV coverage has now been hit by a string of Ofcom complaints over the comments Adjoa made. The show received a whopping 4,165 complaints following the comments, which aired on Saturday as ITV broadcasted live scenes of the Coronation.
With 4,165 complaints, it is Ofcom's most complained moment so far this year. Also this year, Britain's Got Talent received 400 complaints including when a contestant auditioned by taking on the Rubik's Cube, whilst on fire. Dancing On Ice was also complained about because of Ekin-Su's risque outfit whilst Channel 4 show Naked Education received over 900 complaints.
Jeremy Vine's show was also hit with 2,250 Ofcom complaints by angry viewers who were not happy with a debate on the Channel 5 programme concerning the junior doctors pay dispute whilst Coronation Street also received complaints for its acid attack storyline.
She sat alongside Myleene Klass to discuss the newly crowned King and Queen, when she shared her thoughts on the moment Charles and Camilla were joined by members of their family to wave at their subjects from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
"We have gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony," Adjoa mused when speaking to ITV presenters Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham during the ITV live coverage, " I am very struck by that. I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking: 'What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?'"
The actress was supported by many online, who pointed out a "lack of critical thinking" from those slamming Adjoa.
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who often appears on shows like Good Morning Britain, showed her support for the actress, as she wrote on Twitter : "#AdjoaAndoh told no lies in factual observation of ‘terribly White’ (literal & symbolic) Buckingham palace balcony at #Coronation in contrast to tokenism of race diversity at Westminster Abbey & got branded ‘racist’.
"White people false equivalence of racism is laughable. For me it’s the lack of critical thinking re why the contrast is terrible as she rightly points out. Even if Adjoa Andoh spent 99.99% on TV adulating King Charles & British Monarchy, that one observation of White Balcony erases it because for racists she doesn’t know her place."
Following the backlash, Adjoa explained how she didn't intend cause such an outrage.
"I think I upset a few people yesterday," she said, "I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going: 'Oh it's so white!' because the day had been so mixed and I didn't mean to upset anybody."
