Celebrity Traitors star Myha’la has shared her thoughts on ‘unconscious racial bias’ in the show after being banished.
The Industry star was the second to be voted out by her fellow castmates as a suspected Traitor, only to reveal herself as a Faithful as she left the castle.
Although she wasn’t long in the castle, she formed lifelong bonds, most of all with the banished Traitor Richard E. Grant. In fact, he even proved to be part of her undoing when she winked at him before voting at the roundtable, raising some people’s suspicions.
After bidding adieu to the game show, she took to Instagram to commemorate her time on the series, leading with the moment she did her ill-fated wink.
As well as a series of memes from her time there.
In one comment interaction, entrepreneur Chantel Sachanna wrote: ‘Unfortunately you were banished because you are BLACK. This is a consistent thread in this racist show.’
The 30-year-old actress replied that she had ‘sealed her own fate’.
‘And that early in the game there is VERY little to grasp on to, and I gave them…a lot, there is VERY little to grasp on to,’ she added.
Although she excused her own banishment, she acknowledged Chantel raised a valid point, one that has been raised by many viewers who have noticed a pattern of people of colour being voted out early throughout the seasons.
According to Deadline, she continued: ‘I do agree that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game where my authenticity or honesty or the ways in which I choose to express myself look suspicious to people who are unfamiliar with people like me.
‘I had this fear coming into the game, as I am a BIG fan and also clocked right away how prevalent this is in this game. And I came in knowing I’d be the only American (apart from Honorary British National Treasure Jerry Hall).’
Once more doubling down that it isn’t something she personally feels she experienced, she added: ‘I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist, but I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race.’
She encouraged more conversation around ‘unconscious bias’ and acknowledged that when ‘under pressure’ people tend to ‘gravitate’ towards what they know and away from what they don’t.
‘It’s all love, and I REALLY genuinely appreciate your support,’ she concluded.
Myha’la marked the second person of colour to exit the series so far, with broadcaster Amol Rajan being murdered by the Traitors straight out of the gate.
Metro has reached out to the BBC for comment.
Celebrity Traitors airs at 8pm every Thursday and Friday night on BBC One.