Whitney Adebayo, known for her recent participation in the Netflix reality show "Inside," has become the target of racist abuse and death threats. The new reality TV competition, produced by the UK-based YouTube collective headed by KSI, pits ten different influencers and celebrities against each other. The decision to showcase Adebayo on series 2 of “Inside” has turned her into the target of a tidal wave of hateful messages and intimidation. The abuse she receives is more than just attack politics.
Publicity still Adebayo, the breakout "Love Island" contestant of Summer 2023. Most notably, she came in as a runner-up with her partner, Lochan Nowacki. She’s one who basks in the limelight, flaunting her prowess. The abuse she continues to experience today exposes a dark underbelly of today’s treatment of women like her. Many of these attacks included explicit or implied racial epithets. Adebayo said, while others made light of Patrice Evra’s poor command of the English language, a joke that Adebayo defined as an “inside joke.”
"This isn't just about a TV show; it's about the way society can sometimes respond to women like me, women who may stand out or don't fit a certain mold [sic] of being cute and mute," said Whitney Adebayo.
This innocuous, if unremarkable, situation speaks to a greater insidious issue of British culture’s endemic racism. This is especially true for people who step outside of dominant gender expectations. Even with all the hatred, Adebayo is hopeful and empowered to keep being true to herself.
"To those who have tried to tear me down, I want to remind you: your hate doesn't define me. It only fuels my determination to grow and to be unapologetically myself," Adebayo asserted.
Through all the chaos, her partner, Lochan Nowacki, has been a steadfast pillar of support and encouragement. To his credit, he took to social media to voice his indignation and outrage at what happened.
"So proud of you baby! It's a shocking and disgusting world we live in sometimes!" commented Lochan Nowacki on Instagram.
Adebayo’s experience is a reminder of a major issue troubling so many people in public life these days—racism and undeserved aggression disguised as critique. This defies social conventions. Lastly, it reveals the pernicious ways in which we collectively continue to call for silence and obedience from our public figures, particularly women of color.
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