Star’s rant about ‘white’ royal family at King Charles’ coronation sparks outrage

A Netflix star’s scathing remarks about the royal family’s balcony appearance has led to thousands of complaints.

A TV star’s live criticism of a “terribly white” British royal family during King Charles’ coronation has become the most complained about moment on TV in the UK this year.

Adjoa Andoh’s remarks, made during ITV’s coverage of the event, has generated more than 4,100 complaints to Ofcom, Britain’s media regulator.

The 60-year-old actress, who plays Lady Danbury in the Netflix series, Bridgerton, has since insisted that she did not mean to cause any offence.

Andoh told Tom Bradby on Coronation Day that the appearance of the family on the Buckingham Palace balcony contrasted with the earlier events at Westminster Abbey.

“We’ve gone from the rich diversity of the abbey to a terribly white balcony. I was very struck by that,” she said.

“I am also looking to those younger generations and thinking, ‘What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?’”

This prompted people to blast Andoh on social media, calling her statement “ridiculous” and “appalling”.

One viewer wrote: “ITV after the racist comment by Adjoa Andoh yesterday, I have now put in my complaint to Ofcom.”

Another commented: “Was going to let it go but I’m really angry, so thought no for a change. Things like this need challenging.”

A spokesman for Ofcom said the regulator is “assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate”.

The royal family appears on the balcony during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace in London, England. Picture: Getty Images.

King Charles acceded to the throne upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images.

Andoh later responded to the backlash on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday morning show with Paddy O’Connell.

“I think I upset a few people yesterday,” she said.

“I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going, ‘Oh it’s so white’, because the day had been so mixed and I didn’t mean to upset anybody.”

By contrast, the most complained about moment last year was related to alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants on Love Island, receiving 2,630 negative comments, The Telegraph reports.

Originally published as Star’s rant about ‘white’ royal family at King Charles’ coronation sparks outrage