Oti Mabuse has revealed the shocking moment her husband was asked to prove their daughter was his while going through UK border control.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star shared the experience during Black History Month, which celebrates Black history and culture and seeks to combat discrimination and promote racial equality.
In a candid conversation with Hits Radio presenter Fleur East for a Black History Month special titled Raising the Next Generation, both women, who have recently become mothers, reflected on how they are raising their children and the lessons they've learned from their families and childhoods.
During one point of their frank conversation, the Dancing On Ice judge opened up about the incident with her baby girl.
She explained: "He [her husband] was asked at border control, 'Show me proof that this is your child.' He had never been asked for proof before... it was a real learning moment for him."
The Dancing On Ice judge continued by describing the interrogation her husband endured, sharing examples of the questions he was asked and acknowledged that it was first time he truly experienced microaggression.
She continued: “First questions ‘where’s the Mum, where is she from, your baby looks very, very different;’ touching the hair, ‘her hair is so different’… all of that and for the first time he felt protective over the fact that now he has to explain himself, which he didn’t have to before.
“And he also has to see what a microagression is - because before he was like ‘it’s just a question’ and I went but it’s not is it?”
Concluding her story, Mabuse added: “Just remind your baby that you’re not just black or white you’re both. That’s an important message. You don’t have to be either or - it’s twice as nice! Why does it have to be one or the other?”
It’s not the first time the TV star has discussed the racial abuse she’s faced while being in the limelight.
Mabuse became a household name in the UK when she first joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2015.
Back in 2022, she revealed that she has received online messages from viewers attacking her race and body shape.
She told the RadioTimes: “I’ve never really spoken about it because I’ve tried for so long to think about it this way: I work on a show that 10 million people love. If 10 or 100 people aren’t nice to me, that is not representative of everyone else’s views.
“To get tweeted or receive a message in my inbox being racially abusive, or fat-shaming me, is horrible. But it’s written by a person who can’t even face themselves in the mirror.”
At the time, the South African-born star explained that she channelled the negativity into her work, aiming to set a “strong” example for young girls. “The hard stuff that I’ve been through, with the racism and discrimination, is proof that people still have a lot to learn,” she continued. “The more hate I receive the more of a reason it is to carry on doing my job. I have to show young girls that anything is possible. I have to fight, and be strong.”
