A number of Hollyoaks stars have publicly backed actress Rachel Adedeji after she called out the Channel 4 soap’s “performative and disingenuous” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and made accusations of backstage racism.

Hollyoaks took part in Blackout Tuesday last week to support Black Lives Matter and later announced they would be discussing racism in a special podcast but Rachel, who has played Lisa Loveday on the show since 2016, admitted she was “disappointed” with the soap’s efforts to tackle the issue.

The 28-year-old spoke out social media and urged that “systemic changes must be put into practice” at Hollyoaks after she referenced a number of her experiences on the show, accusing a senior producer of referring to black cast members as “blackies” and a make-up artist of telling her “you’re all the same”. She also revealed black actresses “were forced to change their hair” as viewers “would not be able to tell them apart” and that black cast members were “deemed angry, aggressive and too vocal”.

Rachel’s on-screen father Karl Collins (Louis Loveday) was one of the first to speak out in support, writing, “Well… it will come as no surprise that I love this woman who I affectionately call ‘darta!’ I am so proud of her bravery! #speakyourtruth @RachelASongs #noliestold #BlackLivesMatterUK #BlackLivesMatter."

Simone Loveday actress Jacqueline Boatswain commented, “The truth will set you free!!! Speak on it!"

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Ross Adams, who plays Scott Drinkwell, added, "Sending you love, respect and solidarity. I commit to doing better, to educate myself and to stand by anyone facing discrimination anywhere."

Holly Cunningham actress Amanda Clapham also issued an open letter to the show’s executive producer Bryan Kirkwood and called for the show to issue an apology to Rachel.

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“Hollyoaks has zero tolerance on racism. We are taking Rachel Adedeji’s comments extremely seriously and are investigating,” read a statement the soap issued in response to Rachel.

But Amanda claimed the show had “no empathy” in their statement.

“You could have taken more time to respond if that’s what you needed but this really does not sit right,” she wrote. “She has told you about many encounters that will have been traumatising for her and you refer to her messages as ‘comments’.

"Let me be clear, I have learnt a lot this week, like I’m sure many of us have. I thought I was anti-racist when in fact I wasn’t quite there. It’s true, we all need to change.”

When is Hollyoaks on TV?

Hollyoaks is on Mondays and Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Hollyoaks Favourites airs on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 6:30pm on Channel 4.

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