Zeze Millz has spoken out about the controversy surrounding her Channel 4 show Unapologetic, after an episode featuring comedian White Yardie sparked backlash. The presenter admitted the row 'dampened' what should have been a career high.
During the episode, panelist Nicolas-Tyrell Scott asked White Yardie, born Harry Gregory, when he 'decided' to be Jamaican. Gregory, who moved to Jamaica at three months old and lived there for two decades, faced questions about his identity. The exchange drew 51 complaints to Ofcom and a wave of criticism online.
Speaking on BBC Radio 1Xtra's If You Don't Know podcast, Zeze said: 'People were tweeting me like, “He’s more Jamaican than you”, and I was like, you didn’t watch it because I literally said those exact words.' She added that the same week she had released an interview with Ed Sheeran, but the backlash prevented her from enjoying the achievement.
Gregory defended himself on the show, stating: 'I do class myself as part of the Jamaican culture... I spent the majority of my life in Jamaica, and also my whole life is lived as a Jamaican lifestyle.' Several public figures, including Diversity's Ashley Banjo and BBC DJ Nadia Jae, voiced support for the comedian.
