Nui Te Koha: Claims of bombshell racist comments on Neighbours set must be taken seriously

The makers behind Neighbours must work hard to investigate, and act on, damaging claims of racism and homophobia.

It’s not yet the Hollywood ending, but Fremantle and Channel 10’s decision to order an independent review of Neighbours is a commendable pathway.

Fremantle, a TV production giant, took action on Thursday following actor Shareena Clanton’s explosive claims of racism on the set of Ten’s popular soap, which were backed by former Neighbours star Meyne Wyatt, and supported by Sharon Johal, who is still a Ramsay St resident.

Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Fremantle Asia Pacific, said on Thursday: “Fremantle is committed to providing an environment where employees and others in the workplace are treated fairly and with respect, and are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying.

“We do not tolerate behaviour that does not align to our Anti-Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Harassment & Bullying Policy and take all complaints very seriously, investigating all allegations fairly and thoroughly. We have asked Campfire X, creative leaders in Indigenous Cultural Protocols, to conduct an independent review of Neighbours and the production process.”

Shareena Clanton posted explosive claims about racism on Ramsay St.

A Network 10 spokesperson also said on Thursday: “Network 10 does not tolerate discriminatory or racist behaviour in any form.

“We work closely with all our production partners to ensure everyone has access to a diverse, inclusive and safe working environment. We support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against racism and discrimination. We will work with Fremantle, and all cast and crew, to investigate and ensure Neighbours continues to foster a fully inclusive environment.”

Strong words, indeed.

But the response needed to be industrial strength after Clanton’s bombshell claims, followed by Meyne’s postscript alleging the Neighbours set was also ‘rife” with “homophobia.”

For a show like Neighbours, a reflection of suburban Aussie life with the occasional kidnapping and thrown in, it was the plot twist nobody saw coming.

Neighbours star Sharon Johal Picture: Channel 10

Clanton alleges she was exposed to the “n-word” twice, and saw a white actor openly calling another actor of colour a “lil monkey,” while on set of the popular soap.

“Struggling to post anything positive about the months I endured on @neighbours after multiple racist traumas and navigating ongoing counselling from this highly problematic show,” Clanton wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

“It’s been lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe space.”

She added: “Overt and covert levels of racism were rife, often disguised as ‘jokes,’ like a white actor openly calling another actor of colour a ‘lil monkey.’ The retaliation for calling out this misconduct and racism often left me ostracised and further marginalised.”

Clanton also claimed the workplace at Neighbours was “toxic” “sexist and misogynistic” “disrespectful and crude” with “abhorrent levels of bullying.”

Fremantle’s first response, in a statement released on Tuesday, said Clanton’s short time on the show, in a guest role, was a learning process for all.

“Shareena’s involvement in the creative process and on set was invaluable and hugely educational and will benefit the series moving forward,” the Fremantle statement said.

“There have been significant and lengthy discussions with Shareena during her time on

Meyne Wyatt, was the first Indigenous actor to have a permanent role on Neigbours. Picture: Sarah Matray

Neighbours and we will continue to work with all cast and crew to ensure Neighbours continues to be a fully inclusive environment.”

“Neighbours strives to be a platform for diversity and inclusion on-screen and off-screen. Our quest is always to continue to grow and develop in this area and we acknowledge that this is an evolving process.”

However, Wyatt’s claims about homophobia on the set undermined Fremantle’s “diversity and inclusion” line.

Wyatt said: “It made for a very unsafe environment for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. Racism needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out. Homophobia needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out. Neighbours do better.”

Sharon Johal, an actor of Indian descent, and who plays Dipi Rebecchi on Neighbours, joined the fray on Wednesday, giving Clanton and Wyatt’s claims momentum.

Johal said: “White privilege is rife around me, even today, in my circles and I’m exhausted having to explain this to others. Do your own research. Open your eyes.”

It seems Clanton, Wyatt and Johal’s words will spark better cultural awareness in Erinsborough, the mythical suburb where Neighbours is set, yet a fictional place that’s now feeling the heat of an all-too-real spotlight.

This isn’t the first racism furore to engulf Ramsay St; but it’s certainly the first to rock the show “from the inside.”

Menik Gooneratne, who played Priya Kapoor from 2011 to 2013, said an ambitious storyline of an Indian family moving to Erinsborough quickly went from trailblazing to trolled.

She told The Equity Magazine: “Instead of being a time to celebrate this progressive step, the announcement of my casting and the subsequent months led to a barrage of racial abuse and outrage that brown people were ‘invading’ Ramsay Street and ‘stealing jobs’ from hardworking Australians.”

In the end, poor Priya was killed off, and the Kapoors relocated.

The actions taken by Fremantle and Ten address Clanton’s calls for “a shift in cultural education” and “training around workplace integrity (and) updated codes of conduct.”

With an independent review underway, the show is working hard to investigate, and act on, these damaging claims.

That’s the only way good neighbours become good friends.

Nui Te Koha is a Herald Sun columnist