June 06, 2020
Hollyoaks star Rachel Adedeji has detailed her own personal experiences of racism behind the scenes of the soap, in light of the show’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hollyoaks Star Rachel Adedeji Calls Out Behind-The-Scenes Racism Following Soaps Disappointing Black Lives Matter Response
After Hollyoaks announced a podcast about racism and shared a video from co-star Kéllé Bryan on their social accounts, Rachel, who plays Lisa Loveday, called for the show to go further and put “systemic changes” into practice. “I am disappointed with Hollyoaks’ approach to showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement [on Thursday],” Rachel said in a statement she posted on Twitter. 
“Did Black Lives Matter when I was told ‘You’re all the same’ by a make-up artist you employed, and remains in employment till this day?
“Did Black Lives Matter when a number of female Black actors were forced to drastically change their hair, because if not, the viewers ‘would not be able to tell them apart’?
“Do Black Lives Matter when my fellow Black cast mates are deemed angry, aggressive and too vocal?
“Did Black Lives Matter when we were referred to as ‘b******s’ by a senior member of the production team? Do Black Lives really Matter to you if over the last four years at Hollyoaks, I have only worked with ONE Black director?
“Honestly, the list goes on.”My thoughts on the Hollyoaks response to Black Lives Matter pic.twitter.com/jvOxzCQkl0— Rachel Adedeji (@RachelASongs) June 5, 2020Rachel added that having a Black cast member “speak on behalf of Hollyoaks to show that the work is being done is not as progressive as they think”.
“As a matter of fact, very little is being done behind the scenes,” she said. “Unfortunately Hollyoaks’ response seems to me performative and disingenuous. 
“It starts within the work place. Systemic changes must be put into practice.”
Rachel, who joined Hollyoaks in 2016, added that working on the show was “mostly positive”, but said the experiences she has encountered are “a constant reminder of how difficult it is being a Black woman in the industry”. 
She concluded: “Putting out a podcast on racism and asking your Black cast members to teach you how to tackle these issues is the bare minimum.
“THINK. DO BETTER.
“I hope Hollyoaks delivers the same energy when #BlackLivesMatter is no longer trending.”
In response to Rachel’s statement, a spokesperson for Hollyoaks told HuffPost UK: “We are really concerned to read Rachel’s comments on Social Media about Hollyoaks this evening. We will be in touch with Rachel directly.” 
In a post on their official Twitter page, the soap later said they were taking Rachel’s comments “extremely seriously and are investigating”. A statement from Hollyoaks. pic.twitter.com/PAXlFaLR6w— Hollyoaks (@Hollyoaks) June 6, 2020Rachel was applauded for speaking out by her former co-stars Jacqueline Boatswain and Karl Collins, who played her on-screen parents Simone and Louis Loveday. The truth will set you free!!! Speak on it.✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 https://t.co/0AKjhMncYJ— Jacqueline Boatswain (@JacquiBoats) June 5, 2020Well..... it will come as no surprise that I love this woman who I affectionately call ‘darta!’ I am so proud of her bravery! #speakyourtruth@RachelASongs#noliestold#BlackLivesMatterUK#BlackLivesMatter— Karl Collins (@MrKarlCollins) June 5, 2020“The truth will set you free!!! Speak on it,” Jacqueline wrote. 
Karl added: “Well..... it will come as no surprise that I love this woman who I affectionately call ‘darta!’ I am so proud of her bravery!”READ MORE: Reggie Yates Shares Powerful Statement About Racism: 'Please, Let's Not Go Backwards' Jordan Peele And Mark Hamill Praise John Boyega Following Rousing Anti-Racism Speech Emotional Alison Hammond Gives Stirring Speech In Support Of Black Lives Matter
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Olivia Munn Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Double Mastectomy Procedure | E! News
March 13, 2024
kUaEV1Kd3S0
Travis Kelce Shares Details From His Trip to Singapore With Taylor Swift | E! News
March 13, 2024
3YXi-Dgf4eg
Kate Middleton VIRAL Photo: Agency Addresses Photoshop Claims | E! News
March 13, 2024
S4VkO0TpkCY
Da'Vine Joy Randolph Plays 'Smash or Pass' With Iconic Moments From Her Career
March 13, 2024
vkPdJEF2BX4
Jean Smart Wears a Hotel Bathrobe to Present an Award to Hannah Einbinder l Power of Comedy SxSW
March 12, 2024
Bw7uVEYQev4
Lenny Kravitz Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 12, 2024
MlWq8BcnwhE
Dak Prescott Extortion Plot & Steph Curry for President? | TMZ Sports Full Ep - 3/12/24
March 13, 2024
jHFsrjs7OFY
A Japanese space rocket blew up after takeoff Tuesday, turning the sky into a fireball of smoke.
March 13, 2024
YkfJ3Qg8B7c
#KimKardashian and #BiancaCensori hung out at #KanyeWest's listening party Tuesday night!
March 13, 2024
EfwLLq6bx9k
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond denies using Ozempic to lose 60 pounds
March 13, 2024
Omfjk1AlZ3A
Chrissy Teigen reveals her ‘boob lift scars’ in daring dress at Jay-Z & Beyoncé’s Oscars 2024 party
March 13, 2024
VxZ2qXAlpmU
Zoë Kravitz pokes fun at dad Lenny Kravitz's style during Hollywood Walk of Fame speech
March 13, 2024
j3-lcFu_1sQ
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
SC Freiburg - Bayer Leverkusen
17
Mar
USA: Major League Soccer
Atlanta United - Orlando City
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
West Ham United - Aston Villa
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Rayo Vallecano - Real Betis
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Championship
Leeds - Millwall
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Las Palmas - Almeria
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Villarreal - Valencia
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Sevilla - Celta Vigo
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
09
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Werder Bremen - Borussia Dortmund
09
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Arsenal - Brentford
09
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Bologna - Inter Milan
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.