Alesha Dixon has spoken out following reports she said she would quit Britain’s Got Talent if ITV made a public apology over Diversity’s performance during this year’s semi-finals.
When BGT returned to our screens earlier this month, the former champions returned to the show to perform a routine inspired by the events of 2020, including references to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Although the performance was met with widespread praise at the time, in the week that followed it was reported that more than 15,000 complaints had been made about it to Ofcom.
Over the weekend, the Mail On Sunday claimed that Alesha – who has voiced her support for Diversity amid the backlash – had “told friends” that if ITV were to apologise over the performance, she would quit her role as a judge.
Posting on Twitter on Sunday, she insisted she had “never threatened to quit” the series, accusing the journalist in question of “making up this story”.
“For the record I never threatened to quit BGT, I’ve had no conversations with ITV regarding this matter,” she wrote. “I do however stand by and support @AshleyBanjo and Diversity.”
Alesha also added the hashtag, #IAmNotYourMediaPuppet.
Alesha is the only member of the main BGT team to have publicly shown support for Diversity since their performance at the beginning of the semi-finals.
However, Piers Morgan – who was a judge on the show when they were crowned winners – also spoke out in defence of the group during Monday’s edition of Good Morning Britain.
Back in July, Alesha once again used her social media platform to shut down a rumour that had been written about her in the press, this time involving fellow BGT judge Simon Cowell.
The former Mis-Teeq star blasted a tabloid story claiming Simon’s girlfriend Lauren Silverman had confronted her backstage at Britain’s Got Talent, writing: “First class journalism at its best again! Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story!
“How long can they keep getting away with this negative, toxic behaviour! Lauren has been nothing but gracious to my family! Have you learnt nothing from Caroline [Flack]’s passing!”