Hollyoaks actress Rachel Adedeji accuses show of racist incidents that happened behind the scenes

Hollyoaks actress Rachel Adedeji has slammed the show’s response to the recent furore over the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The star, 28, who plays Lisa Loveday on the Channel 4 soap, took to her Twitter to say she doesn’t agree with Hollyoaks’ recent post addressing the movement. 

Rachel said their response wasn’t progressive before revealing she was aware of racial slurs and injustices happening on set. 

Hollyoaks uploaded a video of actress Kelle Bryan, who plays Martine Deveraux, discussing the movement’s issues. 

A recent surge in interest of the Black Lives Matter movement was kickstarted by the senseless killing of George Floyd, who died after a white policeman, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. 

Chauvin has now been charged with second-degree murder. Floyd was initially arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit 20-dollar bill.  

Kelle, 45, said: ‘As you may have noticed, we have been silent across all our social media platforms in direct response to the horrendous atrocities that have taken place in the USA with the loss of George Floyd. 

‘Black lives really do matter but don’t take our silence as inaction. We have been busy behind the scenes having lots of really important conversations. 

‘We will be kickstarting with a podcast all about racism – how we tackle it, how we face it and most importantly, how we overcome it.’ 

However, Rachel was ‘disappointed’ and directly called the show out over racist incidents she says happened. 

She wrote: ‘Did Black Lives Matter when I was told ”You’re all the same” by a makeup 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****ies” 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. Having a black cast member speak on behalf of Hollyoaks to show that the work is being done is not as progressive as you think. 

‘As a matter of fact, very little is being done behind the scenes. Unfortunately Hollyoaks’ response seems to me performative and disingenuous. 

‘It starts within the work place. Systemic changes must be put into practice. Working at Hollyoaks is mostly positive but the experiences I have encountered are a constant reminder of how difficult it is being a black woman in the industry. 

‘I am no longer standing for it. 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.’ 

Actress Mandip Gill, who played Phoebe McQuee in Hollyoaks until she left in 2015, replied to Rachel’s statement with a series of clapping emojis. 

And Karl Collins, who played Rachel’s onscreen father Louis Loveday in Hollyoaks until 2019, showed his support and praised her ‘bravery’. 

He wrote: ‘Well….. it will come as no surprise that I love this woman who I affectionately call ‘darta!’ ‘I am so proud of her bravery!’  

A representative for Hollyoaks has been contacted for comment.