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.
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.”
Rachel 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”.
Rachel 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,” 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!”