[Headie]

It mentions Melanie and Makosi from BB, Joanna from The Apprentice and Alexandra from Strictly.

Alexandra Burke and the trouble with reality TV and race
As a brilliant dancer fails to win votes on Strictly week after week, an unsettling interpretation emerges: that racial anxieties are the problem

Few contestants have dominated the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor like Alexandra Burke has this year. She received the first 10 of the season for her jive to Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, performed a flawless, Mary Poppins-themed charleston and impressed the judges with her salsa and her Viennese waltz.

Despite her technical brilliance, Burke has found herself repeatedly in the bottom two – as voted for by the British public. And some observers have perceived a contempt for her, from both the media and the public, that is unlike anything directed towards her fellow contestants.

This week Burke received an apology from the BBC Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans over the fact that she had been in the bottom two the week before. “I would like to apologise on behalf of Great Britain because we forgot to vote for you,” said Evans to Burke, who revealed that Strictly had told her people didn’t vote for her because they presumed she was safe.

But alongside that benign explanation for her underperformance is another more troubling interpretation – and one that has nagged televised popularity contests ever since the early days of Big Brother. By this argument, Burke’s surprising difficulties are linked to deeply rooted racial anxieties that will not go away.

Despite Ore Oduba taking the Strictly crown last year, accusations of unconscious voter racism have long plagued the show, particularly after the row caused by the successive departures of black contestants Tameka Empson and Melvin Odoom. Subsequent analysis by the Guardian demonstrated that being black or minority ethnic increased a contestant’s chances of being in the bottom two by 71%, and being both black and female increased those odds by 83%.

Kehinde Andrews, a sociology professor at Birmingham City University and the co-editor of Blackness in Britain, said it was unsurprising that the British public were uncomfortable voting for Burke to win Strictly, a show beloved for promoting family values and a sense of British national identity, which many still see as being at odds with multiculturalism and diversity.

“Every time you see one of these reality shows, you see they get ethnically cleansed very quickly,” said Andrews. “These shows speak to how black and ethnic minority people are viewed with suspicion across Britain.”

Burke may have been the highest scoring contestant of the competition but across the media she has repeatedly been branded a “diva” and a “difficult” contestant, who “can’t stop bickering” and “screaming” at her dance partner, Gorka Marquez. It was then alleged that she went into “meltdown” after finding herself in the bottom two once again last Sunday, forcing Burke to issue a denial of the “fake” report.

Some observers said Joanna Jarjue, a contestant on The Apprentice, had received similar treatment before she was fired this week, having been persistently presented as unusually argumentative and aggressive. Lucy Mckeown, a makeup artist, tweeted:


Lucyferrr
@Lucyferrr
Have to say the thinly veiled racism directed at @joannajarjue on this seasons Apprentice was hard to watch. She was no more “confrontational” than anyone else.


When Jarjue left the show she said she was grateful to everyone “who has supported me, been rooting for me and seen beyond a narrative”.

Andrews said Burke’s characterisation in some parts of the media was typical. “We shouldn’t be surprised that this is what’s happened on Strictly,” he said. “The diva script is one of the only scripts that is put across on TV for reading black women.”

Melanie Hill, a mixed-race female contestant on the first series of Big Brother, said that she had experienced similar prejudice when she was on the show and added that misogyny often went together with racial stereotypes.

“It was all interwoven with sexuality from the beginning,’ said Hill. “The video clip of the show that I couldn’t escape was of me getting unchanged in the bedroom. It was the same behaviour as everyone else, it’s not like I was doing striptease, but it was my bum that got singled out.

“It felt like they wanted to reduce me to this stereotype of a overly sexual, aggressive mixed-race woman. And the press had a complete field day with me being this despised ‘black widow’. I was called a preying mantis. It was all so sexually loaded which couldn’t be further my own view of my own identity.”

It was a similar experience for Makosi Musambasi, a contestant on Big Brother 6, who described how she had entered the show believing people would see her for who she was, an articulate, well-educated nurse, and had been shocked to find on leaving the show that the focus was entirely on her as a “sexy black woman with big boobs”.

“When I did it, it was awful. I just wanted to hide away after,” said Musambasi. “I realised people really can’t accredit anything else to black women but her body and in the Big Brother house there was no place for me as a smart black woman. They brought me into the house for my boobs and the script they had always intended for me was as a sexy black woman. The editing made that obvious – they showed me in the shower more than any other contestant, male or female.”

In a damning piece for Black Ballad, its editor, Tobi Oredein, described how this series of Strictly had once again seen flawed and damaging stereotypes foisted on a black reality TV contestant. “The ‘problem’ the public has with Alexandra Burke exposes the hypocrisy and racism that still has tight grip around the neck of the British nation,” she said.

Oredein said the treatment of Burke was indicative of how some members of the British public remained uncomfortable with a black woman outperforming the white contestants. “Alexandra is a self-assured black woman who is infiltrating a world of entertainment that is seen as an extremely white space,” she added.

“To the British public, how can this black woman be better than her white counterparts, show emotion and be beautiful?”

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...P=share_btn_tw

[Matthew.]

Interesting one that I saw earlier as Joanna retweeted it

[montblanc]

true true true

[GoldHeart]

Ohh the negativity but very interesting article but I'm not surprised . But I knew Alexandra wouldn't win but I'm so happy both her & Debbie made the final .

It was obvious Joe was going to win , yes it was wrong that Alexandra was in the B2 twice . But the hate campaign against her didn't help . But I'm glad her fans and new fans supported her even more.

We all know the wrong people get kicked out of strictly early on because it's a popularity show and it's all about who you fancy or who you're a fan of . That's just how it goes , it's supposed to be a dancing competition but more often than not the bad dancers get kept in until much later on . There is injustice and it isn't always fair but it's been happening for a long time .

The reality stars mentioned in this are all different , Makosi didn't help herself on BB , she started off cool & entertaining but then the crap with Anthony in the pool and him denying it just made her look bad , and she generally acted like she was full of herself . It's ashame really but I think the secret missions she got in the BB house made her act weird .

I agree Joanna has been wrongfully treated on the apprentice , she expressed her opinion and was called argumentative for it when the other women on the show were just as confrontational if not MORE ! .

Melanie got terrible backlash on BB for literally just kissing 2 guys I think ? , Again totally unfair . Especially considering since BB 1 people have had sex in that house, cheating on their partners and all sorts .

There's alot of fickle attitude with reality shows and hypocrisy unfortunately . It was insane the hate Alexandra got though. Anyway It's nearly Christmas .

[rusticgal]

Load of crap...it's nothing to do with the skin colour...its just a convenient arguement.
You have to have the 'likeability' factor...and although there is nothing nasty about Alexandra she simply came across as over dramatic and the public saw it as 'fake' and OTT. All the 'WOW' and 'omg' as though she was shocked about being admired by the judges...she knows she's good but I like many found it stomach churning.
Debbie was as good...she deserved it as much as Alexandra...people have their reasons for voting or not voting for someone. Why didn't they vote for Debbie?...it certainly wasn't anything to do with the colour of her skin..
The GBP like to see the underdog win...someone who has come from nowhere where their improvement has grown week in and week out..Debbie and Alexandra have been of a high standard from week 1 based on previous dancing experience...boring. I think Gemma should have won based on tonight's show.
That's reality TV for you...nothing to do with colour.

[stewartf]

u9

Originally Posted by Snowball

Load of crap...it's nothing to do with the skin colour...its just a convenient arguement.
You have to have the 'likeability' factor...and although there is nothing nasty about Alexandra she simply came across as over dramatic and the public saw it as 'fake' and OTT. All the 'WOW' and 'omg' as though she was shocked about being admired by the judges...she knows she's good but I like many found it stomach churning.
Debbie was as good...she deserved it as much as Alexandra...people have their reasons for voting or not voting for someone. Why didn't they vote for Debbie?...it certainly wasn't anything to do with the colour of her skin..
The GBP like to see the underdog win...someone who has come from nowhere where their improvement has grown week in and week out..Debbie and Alexandra have been of a high standard from week 1 based on previous dancing experience...boring. I think Gemma should have won based on tonight's show.
That's reality TV for you...nothing to do with colour.

I think Debbie played the faux surprise game too at her scores ..also an accomplished dancer so a really annoying game when after years of dance they knew they were in for nines and tens. Thought Gem's reactions were very mature and normal by comparison. Ironically the actress, but not playing the stupid drama queen.

[Mystic Mock]

The hate for Alexandra was very OTT.

However I did find her too princessy for my personal tastes, I find that kind of woman very annoying to listen to as I had the same issues with Debbie on that front to.

[Cherie]

She made the final on the two shows she entered, beating a boyband ( when apparently only thirsty women vote), and she was beaten on Strictly by someone from a very popular drama show, add to that that she wasn't particularly likeable on Strictly, and neither was Debbie, Gemma should have won as she had the likability factor and made the most progression

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by Candy Cane

She made the final on the two shows she entered, beating a boyband ( when apparently only thirsty women vote), and she was beaten on Strictly by someone from a very popular drama show, add to that that she wasn't particularly likeable on Strictly, and neither was Debbie, Gemma should have won as she had the likability factor and made the most progression

Joe or Gemma for me too

[rusticgal]

Originally Posted by Candy Cane

She made the final on the two shows she entered, beating a boyband ( when apparently only thirsty women vote), and she was beaten on Strictly by someone from a very popular drama show, add to that that she wasn't particularly likeable on Strictly, and neither was Debbie, Gemma should have won as she had the likability factor and made the most progression

I would have loved Gemma to win..

[Cherie]

If the leaked percentages are anything to go by she only lost by 5 per cent and LT could only get Debbie to 4th

[chuff me dizzy]

I dont watch the Apprentice so cannot comment, but the other 2 you mention were self serving,arrogant bitches regardless of their colour ,and with such a bad attitude they will and should never win

[DrunkerThanMoses]

Originally Posted by chuff me dizzy

I dont watch the Apprentice so cannot comment, but the other 2 you mention were self serving,arrogant bitches regardless of their colour ,and with such a bad attitude they will and should never win

Joanne was edited to be cry baby, but she is only 23, she might be better off tv but the way she was shown to be argumentative cry baby, she needs to grow up.

[MTVN]

I don't always agree with this theory but I did think they made far too big a deal of Joanna being 'confrontational' on TA, there was one task at the start where she was that way but other than that she wasn't that bad but Lord Sugar returned to it every week.

I think Makosi is being a bit obtuse to say she was shocked at her portrayal though given the way she acted in the house though

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Father Moyesy

I don't always agree with this theory but I did think they made far too big a deal of Joanna being 'confrontational' on TA, there was one task at the start where she was that way but other than that she wasn't that bad but Lord Sugar returned to it every week.

I think Makosi is being a bit obtuse to say she was shocked at her portrayal though given the way she acted in the house though

Not half as much of a big deal as they made of Elizabeth being a potty control freak!

They only portrayed Elizabeth like that because she is White (I can't think of another reason why?)

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Sir Alfred

Not half as much of a big deal as they made of Elizabeth being a potty control freak!

They only portrayed Elizabeth like that because she is White (I can't think of another reason why?)

I don't want to use the race card as that ISN'T always the case. Despite Makosi behaving weird in the house Davina still had to admit she was an entertaining hm even though both her & the audience treated her like public enemy number 1 .

Makosi didn't help herself as I've already said , the crap with Anthony was a mess and the secret missions she had in the house made her act differently . She's swears blind without the secret missions she would of acted the same but I'm not convinced tbh .

She was a fun hm to start with and I was glad she completed the secret missions but it became frustrating how narcissistic and annoying she became. But she made the final, I don't think she would ever of won but some people reckon she might of won if all the BS antics never happened but I'm not sure.


But anyway Elizabeth was a mad hatter control freak and drove everyone crazy yet Sugar kept her in and it proves the apprentice is a big fat joke, zero to do with proper business skills and more about entertainment and comedy. Elizabeth was never going to win but I always knew she'd make the interviews to see her get grilled for viewers pleasure.

[montblanc]

i understand that some of these examples were kind of bad but the overall points that the article is making are very true

[Niamh.]

She won X Factor and came what 2nd or 3rd on this? So I don't get this article

[Cal.]

I could agree with the 'angry black woman' stereotype but I don't think there's a 'sexy black woman' stereotype fitting with the boobs etc in RTV. That's more reserved for blonde females.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Saint Nicola

I could agree with the 'angry black woman' stereotype but I don't think there's a 'sexy black woman' stereotype fitting with the boobs etc in RTV. That's more reserved for blonde females.

Yeah I definitely get that one

[armand.kay]

Originally Posted by Saint Nicola

I could agree with the 'angry black woman' stereotype but I don't think there's a 'sexy black woman' stereotype fitting with the boobs etc in RTV. That's more reserved for blonde females.

The trope has existed since slavery. I've not really seen it on British tv but its more prevalent on american tv and media. e.g., love and hip hop, BGC, lil kim etc

[Nicky91]

i see no problem

[Kazanne]

Nothing to do with colour imo,some people just use that as an excuse for someone who is usually obnoxious,unlikable off their rockers or gobby,it's the same for white people some are likable others are not,usually in the case of BB the women of colour are usually all of the above,which is a shame as I am sure there are plenty of lovely ones Alison Hammond comes to mind she seems a lovely person and has done really well for herself.

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by Nutcracker Sweet

Nothing to do with colour imo,some people just use that as an excuse for someone who is usually obnoxious,unlikable off their rockers or gobby,it's the same for white people some are likable others are not,usually in the case of BB the women of colour are usually all of the above,which is a shame as I am sure there are plenty of lovely ones Alison Hammond comes to mind she seems a lovely person and has done really well for herself.

Spot on ! As far as I can recall Alison is the only non white woman without a vile attitude in BB, this is why she's done os well for herself

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by chuff me dizzy

Spot on ! As far as I can recall Alison is the only non white woman without a vile attitude in BB, this is why she's done os well for herself

Deborah from BB18
Adjoa BB16
Heaven BB12
Rachel BB11
Dawn BB7

Didn’t have a vile attitude