BBC faces backlash over Adjoa Andoh after Paddy O'Connell comments

BBC faces backlash over interview with Adjoa Andoh after Radio 4 host Paddy O’Connell said the Bridgerton star ‘had nothing to apologise for’ after branding the royal family ‘terribly white’

• Paddy O’Connell claimed Adjoa Andoh had not ‘upset anyone’ on BBC Radio 4
• It comes after the Bridgerton star said Buckingham Palace looked ‘terribly white’
• Just yesterday, Adjoa said that she ‘didn’t mean to upset anybody’ on radio

A BBC Radio 4 presenter has faced backlash from angry listeners after suggesting the Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh ‘had nothing to apologise for’.

Twitter has been flooded with comments following yesterday’s Broadcasting House programme amidst claims that Adjoa ‘tried to backtrack’ on ‘racist’ comments surrounding Buckingham Palace.

Presenter Paddy O’Connell was at the centre of these complaints, with listeners suggesting that he unfairly spoke on their behalf during the radio show.

This outrage comes after Adjoa said the Buckingham Palace balcony was ‘terribly white’ on Coronation Day in the midst of ITV coverage.

One twitter user said: ‘Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh has just tried to back track on @bbcradio4, about her comment that the Buckingham Palace balcony was “terribly white”. And then the presenter Paddy O’Connell tells her that she’s got nothing to apologise for. Please don’t speak for me!’

Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh expressed that she ‘didn’t mean to upset anybody’

Radio presenter Paddy O’Connell told Adjoa that she hadn’t ‘upset anyone’ yesterday

Numerous commenters then chimed into the conversation, adding ‘nor me’ and ‘she does need to apologise’.  

One person tweeted that her comments were ‘outrageous’ and create ‘division’ while another said: ‘Paddy O’Connell is an enabler. Where is the impartiality @BBCRadio4?’

The comments come after Adjoa’s appearance on BBC Radio 4 yesterday where she expressed that she ‘didn’t mean to upset anybody’. 

The Netflix star said: ‘I think I upset a few people yesterday I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end. And I suddenly went “oo it’s so white” – because the day had been so so mixed. 

‘I didn’t mean to upset anybody, I just was -‘

Paddy then interjected, sharing: ‘You haven’t upset anyone.’

MailOnline has approached the BBC for comment. 

This backlash also comes as Ofcom has been bombarded with complaints following the Bridgerton star’s comments on ITV.

This outrage comes after Adjoa said the Buckingham Palace balcony was ‘terribly white’ on Coronation Day

King Charles and Queen Camilla joined other members of the Royal Family to wave down to crowds which had lined up on The Mall

Twitter has been flooded with comments following yesterday’s Broadcasting House programme amidst claims that Adjoa ‘tried to backtrack’ on ‘racist’ comments surrounding Buckingham Palace

One commenter slammed Adjoa’s ITV comments as ‘ridiculous’, tweeting: ‘How can she get away with that? Anyone of white colour would have to make a public apology. Ridiculous, just shows she’s a racist though.’

Another said: ‘@ITV after the racist comment by Adjoa Andoh yesterday, I have now put in my complaint to Ofcom.’

One more viewer then joined the conversation, suggesting they had also complained: ‘Was going to let it go but I’m really angry, so thought no for a change. Things like this need challenging.’

As millions tuned in to watch the newly crowned King and Queen wave down to crowds on The Mall with the rest of the Royal Family, Adjoa left her ITV co-stars stunned with her comments which have been described by some as ‘appalling’.

The star, whose father was of Ghanaian origin, was commentating for ITV on their live Coronation coverage hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham when she said of the event: ‘We have gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony.

‘I am very struck by that.

Ofcom has been bombarded with complaints following a Bridgerton star’s comments that the view of Buckingham Palace balcony was ‘terribly white’ on Coronation Day

One commenter slammed Ms Andoh’s ITV comments as ‘ridiculous’, tweeting: ‘How can she get away with that?’

‘I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking: ‘What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?’

Adjoa, 60, who plays Lady Danbury in Bridgerton, left fellow pundit Myleene Klass – who was sitting next to her – appearing bewildered as she made her comments.

A spokesman for Ofcom told MailOnline: ‘Any complaints we receive on this issue will be assessed against our broadcast rules, before we decide whether to investigate or not.’

The details of any incident attracting more than 50 Ofcom complaints are published every Wednesday.

Adjoa, who played Dr Isaacs in the psychological thriller Fractured, as well as DI Nina Rosen in BBC’s Silent Witness, has enjoyed a successful career in TV, film and on the stage. She made her Hollywood debut in 2009 in Clint Eastwood’s hit-film Invictus alongside Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Ten years later, she co-directed, and played Richard II at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, in the UK’s first all women-of-colour production.

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