It has not been a great week for off-the-cuff remarks during this week’s live Britain’s Got Talent finals.
Earlier, Declan Donnelly came under criticism from viewers for a comment directed at girl group Zyrah Rose, and now attention has turned to judge Alesha Dixon.
Commenting on Vox Fortura’s performance last night, Alesha was full of praise for the “sensational” singers , whom she referred to as “sexy chocolate men”.
The pop star couldn’t say enough good things, describing them as “polished to perfection”, but the word “chocolate” has been interpreted as racially charged by some people who expressed their annoyance on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/RichUnder/status/735564235028213762
I'm a bit late, but Alesha Dixon's "sexy chocolate men" comment made my skin crawl. Surely they're just sexy men? #BGT
— Francesca Bradford 🇮🇹🇬🇧🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🌻 (@cesca_uk) May 25, 2016
Alesha Dixon with some casual racism on #BGT "Chocolate Men". I mean really. Is that even appropriate?
— Daniel Harriss (@Chef_uk) May 25, 2016
@SimonCowell @BGT Alesha Dixon unprofessional tonight #BuzzerGate & calls 4 black men "Chocolate".If she's not sacked it says you condone it
— Mark The Donny Iron (@markdonnyiron) May 25, 2016
Alesha Dixon… Is she on smack or something? "Chocolate men" …well as a milky bar woman I find this offensive!!
— Chrissy (@ChrissyKitty87) May 25, 2016
Not everyone was offended by the comment though:
https://twitter.com/KelaDaScientist/status/735783150069026820
#bgt how is alesha Dixon saying four sexy chocolate men racist?!!! Smh inappropriate but not racist please learn the definition and stop
— Saucy Soucouyant 😛😛🇧🇧🇯🇲 (@skinglo_afro) May 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/1NCONNU_/status/735753307147227136
And indeed, the guys in question – Vox Fortura – don’t seem to have a problem with what she said:
@AleshaOfficial If you think we are "four beautiful chocolate men" can't get any better than that!!😘😍
— Vox Fortura (@VoxFortura) May 25, 2016
To which Dixon replied:
I do! 😍 And so is my husband! 😉😉😉 https://t.co/pySSmcYQ0x
— Alesha Dixon (@AleshaOfficial) May 26, 2016
