Former
Love Island contestant Georgia Harrison has apologised after a picture of her in blackface resurfaced.
Georgia came under
fire after the photo, which shows her face painted black and silver at a children’s birthday party in 2014, was found on her
Instagram account.
The reality star, who appeared on the 2017 series of Love Island, has spoken out via her representative, who has claimed there is an innocent explanation for the picture, which was taken when she was 19.
“Georgia let the birthday boy pick what she had done and that was it,” her spokesperson told MailOnline.
“The little boy asked for her face to be painted black and then asked for her to have a moustache like a cowboy.
“At no point did Georgia think it was offensive or hold any negative connotations Georgia would like to publicly apologise for any hurt or upset she’s caused with this old photograph and will learn from the situation.”
Georgia, who is currently appearing on US reality show The Challenge, attracted much criticism over the photo on Twitter...I don't see how anyone can say Georgia isn't rasict. What she did was 100% blackface, regardless are the reason no one should do it. Also the excuse "she is in the UK" isn't a valid once, since more people over there are rasict. It's sad to see people still supporting her....— Sam 🤘🏻 (@Kailah_Garcia) September 9, 2019You're right. But Georgia REALLY should have known better. I don't know if she had malicious intent. But there's no way she didn't know blackface isnt cool.— Connor Reda (@connorreda) September 9, 2019In the U.K where Georgia and I are from, blackface is racist and a big no no as it is in the US. Loved her but this is completely unacceptable behaviour, absolutely disgusted by it and it’s crazy people are defending her. #TheChallenge34@ChallengeMTV#challenge34— Ria Bambia 💃🏾 (@lightbambiixo) September 9, 2019I don't see how anyone can say Georgia isn't rasict. What she did was 100% blackface, regardless are the reason no one should do it. Also the excuse "she is in the UK" isn't a valid once, since more people over there are rasict. It's sad to see people still supporting her....— Sam 🤘🏻 (@Kailah_Garcia) September 9, 2019Y’all going a little too hard to defend the Georgia/blackface thing. Even if it comes down to her not understanding back then and having grown or whatever, she could apologize and move on and continue to grow. BUT blackface is still blackface. CUT THE SHIT.— Silly Putty Body (@slagmtv) September 9, 2019However, Kayleigh Morris, who appeared on The Challenge alongside Georgia, defended her from some of the comments.
She tweeted: “She’s not a racist. I do not believe that for a second.
“Regardless of my dislike towards Georgia. I do not need to agree with what ppl only assume. I lived with Georgia. I have my own views on her. Her stupidity is what this post is. Everyone has a past. She is entitled to grow.”She’s not a racist. I do not believe that for a second. Regardless of my dislike towards Georgia. I do not need to agree with what ppl only assume. I lived with Georgia. I have my own views on her. Her stupidity is what this post is. Everyone has a past. She is entitled to grow.— Kayleigh Morris (@Kmorrisx) September 10, 2019Theo Campbell, who appeared on both Love Island and The Challenge alongside Georgia, also defended her.
He wrote: “I wasn’t going to say anything as it’s BS to me. But think, loveisland is 10x bigger over here then the challenge is in the U.S. if anyone thought she was being racist it would have been picked up on it already. @georgiaharisonx is away filming atm so can’t tell us who she was.”I wasn’t going to say anything as it’s BS to me. But think, loveisland is 10x bigger over here then the challenge is in the U.S. if anyone thought she was being racist it would have been picked up on it already. @georgiaharisonx is away filming atm so can’t tell us who she was— Theo Campbell (@theo_campbell91) September 9, 2019He added: “She’s one the biggest pro LBGT people, she’s all about equality and is one of the least racist people you’ll ever come across. So leave it out.”READ MORE... Love Island Urged To Drop Contestant Anton Danyluk Over Unearthed Blackface Photo Katy Perry’s ‘Blackface’ Shoes Pulled From Dillard’s Amid Backlash Ex-Love Islander Marcel Somerville Calls For Changes To Casting Process To Address Race Issues