The comedian has hit out at the controversial American president saying he’s had a negative effect on conversations about ‘diversity’ – and had stern words for Nigel Farage too
Outspoken comedian Lenny Henry has admitted that he’s not a big fan of the word ‘diversity’ – as it’s been diminished by US President Donald Trump.
The TV favourite, 67, was speaking to the Mirror at the British Diversity Awards on Tuesday night, where he picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award for over four decades of championing diversity in media.
He said, “We’re slightly moving away from the word now – because it’s been diminished a bit in wider conversation by Donald Trump and Korean woo woo, and we want to be able to talk to people about diversity and inclusion in a way that makes them engage.”
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“We don’t want anything attached to the word that makes people go, “Ooh, we don’t want to be associated with that, because of whatever narrative is attached.
Lenny, who returns to stand-up this May with Still At Large, his first live tour in 17 years, added, “So we’re trying to find other ways to talk about it – because that’s the way we’re going to get through. That’s what we need to do.”
He then joked, “The BBC ’s Tim Davie used the word “participative” a lot. I wish it had been an easier word to pronounce, but participation is what we want. We all need to unite, and keep pushing. It’s a fight, and we’ve got to keep fighting.”
Asked what his award meant to him, he said, “I think it means you’re seen. And all we want is to be seen, whether we’re big, Black, brown, tall, little, so it’s a fantastic thing.”
He also revealed some of the names he’d love to see pick up the gong in future. “Oh, Michael B Jordan, Ryan Coogler… Flora Benjamin should win it again. And I think Clive Myrie is going to win it one day.”
Receiving his award at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, Sir Lenny told the audience, “I know we’re living in uncertain, scary times… all the things we’ve fought for are being threatened and diversity is under attack.
“Long before he blundered into Iran, Donald Trump had been at war with diversity. That guy hates DEI so much, he must think it stands for ‘Don’t Eye-up Ivanka!’ Over here, Nigel Farage hates DEI more than he hates going to Clapham! Says we need to get rid of diversity in hiring and go back to a ‘merit-based system’… merit my arse!
“Here’s what I know: we fought slavery and won, we fought apartheid and won, we fought Section 28 and won. These people will never defeat us, because they’ll never share our passion. Everyone in this room is in the fight of our lives, and I can’t think of… anyone who I’d rather have by my side. Let’s keep coming together, let’s keep uniting, let’s keep fighting and, most importantly, keep the faith. Thank you so much for this.”
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