Tameka was bottom two because she was too loud and a bit full of it with all that awards stuff, guaranteed to annoy the public whether you're black or white

Hmm, maybe. But Tameka was finalist material, out in week 3. I can think of that happening a couple of times, never to white people. I'm not saying she would've definitely made the final, but she had enough talent to get there.

There are people in the U.K. who are racist, people of colour tell us that racism still goes on, so why wouldn't it affect Strictly voting. Not to the extent that no person of colour can ever do well, but maybe it's the difference between first and second or in the dance off and not in the dance off.

The only way Strictly couldn't be affected by racism is if it didn't exist. It does, so consciously or not, the show will be affected.

Finalist material?! Nowhere near, imo. Laura got higher points and was in the dance off so surely that is worse that she was there. Danny, Louise and Ore so far looks likely for the final. A few others could make the final. Abbie and Caroline both were in the dance off early on but were saved due to the fact there was somebody worse, and they went on to win.
Its just unfortunate that Laura and Tameka were both there at the same time because we lost a better dancer early on but I didn't think it was that surprising that either of them dropped into bottom two at this point.

She really didn't, sorry.

Laura's the dancing version of watching paint dry.

She danced beautifully tonight though.

So like that every single thing in life is affected by racism ? with SCD the Judges were racist as well as voters , the voters who chose not to vote for her purely because she was black ?

No not purely because she was black, but subconsciously were they turned away from her because of racial bias that they're not even aware they have.

Maybe they were turned off by her general "gobbiness".

You've put that correctly. I meet people who profess to not being racist, however, know very little about other cultures. Tameka was loud, but that's the way she is and it is also partly cultural.


I don't think she was gobby at all.

That is a personal opinion. The fact is she scored higher and was also in the dance off .

I couldn't agree more. I could not stand her attention seeking and all that shrieking and showing off. Even if she had been the best dancer, and she was far from that, I would never have voted for her. Nothing to do with her colour though as I felt exactly the same about Kellie last year. She was a fairly good dancer but, again, I never voted for her because I didn't like her at all.

Maybe you operate broader parameters than me. I find that sort of thing very off putting.

But that could be down to a subconscious gender bias, studies have shown that women talk far less than men in discussion, yet we think they are talking as much, or more.

Or maybe you don't like gobby women.

I'm not saying every vote is down to racial or gender bias. But these things exist so they will affect Strictly. It doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Not a chance they just preferred someone else and they were not racist without knowing it ?

Racial bias exists in many forms. Some people make comments under the guise of passing an opinion. Some people are racist but dont even realise that they are.

I have white, black and mixed race relatives by marriage and I love them all. So I don't realise I'm racist? Don't think so.

I had no idea who Tameka was before Strictly, and I thought she was gobby, attention seeking and in your face, which I wouldn't have liked in anybody. But I didn't not vote for her because of that.

I didn't even consider voting for Tameka, just as I didn't consider voting for Laura forgettable, Anastacia wimpey and needy, Leslie amazing, Ore quite brilliant.

But some people will see racism in anything, including when there is none. Can I claim racism when there are two white celebs in the dance off?

Exactly.

Claiming racism for spurious reasons just gets peoples backs up. Just as favouring someone simply because they are black is no better.

Reminds me of someone who was useless at their job waving the racism card every time he was pulled up for mistakes.

For crying out loud, people watch the show to be entertained, they vote for who they enjoy watching. It's about popularity as much as ability. Ed Balls gets votes because he makes people laugh, Naga was in the OK category, she didn't stand out for being entertaining or a brilliant dancer.

I didn't vote for her (or anyone else) does that make me racist?

Having black relatives doesn't exclude anyone from having racial bias, people of colour will tell you even they can have racial bias.

Even if you didn't consider race a factor, you can't discount that no-one else did.

Read my post before properly. I don't think I personally attacked you! I was making a general comment. Why are you personalising everything. Good for you that you have black people in your life. Racism exists and we all know it does.

No one has denied racism exists. What the majority are arguing is that racism is not the reason why some celebrities are not popular on this light and fluffy Saturday night entertainment show, about celebrities learning to dance.

deleted. Post didnt make sense.

It wasn't that I didn't consider race a factor - consider doesn't come into it. Race most definitely wasn't a factor.

As for discounting that no-one else does, I don't. But in order for there to be a racist effect on the outcome of voting to keep people IN a competition, it must be that the majority are racist, and I don't believe that. In fact I think it's quite insulting to suggest that the majority are racist.

You are obviously so convinced that racial bias is a decisive factor in people's voting choices that you are unwilling/unable to take on board any counter-arguments.