Bridgerton star apologises after mass outrage after she called the King's coronation 'terribly white'

Netflix's Bridgerton may have returned to our television screens - or, at least, the spin-off about Queen Charlotte - but the teen period drama is back in the headlines for another royal reason.

Yep, the real-life British royal family and the Netflix show, coincidentally which focuses on the British monarchy (as well as high society drama and spicy teen love affairs of London's elite), have intertwined in the wake of the Coronation.

Adjoa Andoh - also known to fans of the Netflix hit series as Lady Danbury - appeared on ITV's coverage of the King's coronation proceedings alongside ITV hosts Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham.

Actress Adjoa Andoh speaks of the “terribly white balcony” at the palace. They are a white family, for goodness sake! Does she think individual families should be subject to diversity quotas? This race-baiting is hugely divisive. Stop it. pic.twitter.com/dGPnQuROMQ

— Paul Embery (@PaulEmbery) May 6, 2023

Thousands flooded the Mall, Westminster, and London as King Charles III was finally anointed as the monarch of Britain and its Commonwealth nations.

Just as cheering crowrds were craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the the newly-crowned King and Queen, Andoh made an observation at ITV's coronation studio that left mouths gaping.

"We have gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony," Andoh said.

Andoh, just for the record, has family from Ghana.

"I am very struck by that," theactor continued.

"I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking: 'What are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?'."

As the 60-year-old actor spoke, those seated around her looked stunned.

The moment seemed to stun her cohosts and prompted outrage on social media, with the moment soon going viral.

One Twitter user said: "They are a white family, for goodness sake! Does she think individual families should be subject to diversity quotas?"

A second added: "What did she expect to see? The Royal Family are a white family!"

And since the words spilled out of her mouth on Saturday, social media has not been kind to the British actor with many accusing her of racism.

Disgusting that white Europeans stand on a balcony in a European capital. https://t.co/0jbaUkimjj

— Mr Calder (@cccammy1) May 6, 2023

What she said was an utter embarrassment. The fact no one called her out was equally embarrassing.

— bob jones 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧 (@bobjones656) May 7, 2023

This was the most shocking part of yesterday for me. Racism being broadcast on the BBC and not a single person on the left has called it out https://t.co/yXqQWib5yU

— Jim (@centristjim1) May 7, 2023

One user said: "'Terribly white balcony?' Now have a white actor saying that about the monarchy of an African nation 'terribly black balcony' the leftists would go into mouth frothing meltdown. Why wasn't this race baiter pulled up about this vile remark?"

A second added: "What she said was an utter embarrassment. The fact no one called her out was equally embarrassing."

While a third quipped: "Disgusting that white Europeans stand on a balcony in a European capital."

But, despite her odd words on Saturday (May 6), Andoh hit back at the backlash against her on BBC Radio 4's Sunday morning show.

"I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going: 'Oh it's so white!' because the day had been so mixed and I didn't mean to upset anybody."

Well, there you have it. A vanilla end to a comment about a rather pasty royal family on one very white balcony,