After a former X Factor contestant claimed she was stereotyped in a racist and unflattering way by the show, one of the judges implicated, Tulisa Contostavlos, has spoken up to explain her side.
The BBC reports that Contostavlos has posted a video on her Instagram calling claims that she was racist “ludicrous” while at the same time admitting that perhaps she could have handled the situation in a more delicate way.
The situation Contostavlos is referring to are videos of her and co-judge Louis Walsh labeling Black contestant Misha B as “feisty” and “mean.” The videos began circulating after Misha B alleged that X Factor forced the “angry black girl” narrative on her during her time on the show. Misha B said that she developed PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after appearing on the show and even considered suicide.
Contostavlos maintains that Misha B made two of her acts cry and that her calling out Misha B’s supposed bad behavior was not racially-motivated. However, she did admit that she now regrets her actions and if the same situation were to happen now, she would have thought more of the emotional consequences of her actions.
Digital Spy also notes that Contostavlos was also careful not to invalidate Misha B’s own reading of the situation during the four-minute video she uploaded on her Instagram page. Contostavlos said she was sorry if Misha B felt that the situation was racially-motivated and that she was only speaking for her side of the situation.
Contostavlos also made sure to emphasize that she did not think Misha B herself was calling her actions racially motivated, but it was people online that was coming to that assumption.
Aside from Contostavlos, X Factor producers have also spoken up about Misha B’s claims, with a spokesperson saying the show is reaching out to the singer to talk to her about her concerns. The spokesperson also reaffirmed X Factor’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and that the show always looks out for the welfare of its contestants.
Misha B is just the latest addition to Black entertainers and artists who have spoken up about the difficulties they have faced in the industry as a result of the movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
Beyoncé, one of the biggest names in the music industry, made use of the speech she delivered for YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 to talk about the music industry and the racism and sexism she encountered within it.
Actor Michael B. Jordan has also called on Hollywood to include inclusion riders on contracts. Inclusion riders ensure that diversity is met in front of and behind the camera.