Diversity's Black Lives Matter dance nominated for Bafta's must-see moment award

Albertina Lloyd

Diversity's performance on Britain’s Got Talent inspired by the Black Lives Matter has been nominated for the must-see moment award at the TV Baftas.

The dance - which prompted more than 25,000 complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom - resulted in judge Ashley Banjo and other members of the group subjected to a vicious backlash of racist abuse from online trolls.

The routine is now up for the Virgin Media Must-See Moment Award, which is decided by public vote, at the TV Bafta 2021 awards, which will be broadcast on 6 June.

Diversity performed a dance inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement on 'Britain's Got Talent'. (Syco/Thames)
Diversity performed a dance inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement on 'Britain's Got Talent'. (Syco/Thames) (ITV)

Read more: Ashley Banjo says Black Lives Matter routine caused divisions in his own family

The other nominees are Netflix period drama Bridgerton, for the scene in which Penelope is revealed to be Lady Whistledown, BBC soap EastEnders, for violent husband Gray Atkin's murder of Chantelle, and Luke Skywalker's appearance in Star Wars show The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat - Picture Shows: Steak with Anchovy Elixir. Nigella Lawson - (BBC - Photographer: Jay Brookes)
Nigella's 'Cook, Eat, Repeat' is also up for the award thanks to her pronunciation of microwave. (BBC) (BBC/Jay Brookes)

Nigella Lawson is also in the running for her unusual pronunciation of microwave on her BBC Two show Cook, Eat, Repeat and Channel 4's Goggleboxfor its reactions to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's coronavirus briefings.

Voting is open until 5pm BST on 24 May to vote for the winner - the only Bafta award decided by the public.

The winner will be announced at the ceremony on 6 June, hosted for the second time running by comedian Richard Ayoade.

Unlike last year's virtual awards ceremony, the TV Baftas are to be held in person, with Covid restrictions in place, at a venue that is yet to be confirmed.

Diversity found fame after winning the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Other members include Ashley’s brother Jordan and Perri Kiely.

Diversity's dance divided audiences. (Syco/Thames)
Diversity's dance divided audiences. (Syco/Thames) (ITV)

Their performance on the ITV talent show on 5 September 2020 was watched by over five million people on the Saturday evening family entertainment show.

Read more: Ashley Banjo 'worried' about his safety in aftermath of Diversity's BGT performance

Inspired by the death of George Floyd, the emotional performance included a moment when lead dancer Ashley Banjo lay beneath a figure in police uniform who placed his knee on Banjo’s neck.

Floyd died aged 46 after a white Minneapolis police officer was seen pinning him to the ground by kneeling on his neck as he pleaded for air.

Officer Derek Chauvin has now been found guilty of manslaughter and third-degree murder.

Following Floyd’s death, anti-racism protests were held around the world.

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