Lenny Henry suggests there’s a lack of diversity in crowds at festivals like Glastonbury
Lenny Henry has suggested there is often a lack of diversity in the crowd at festivals, with him mentioning Glastonbury Festival – which returns to Worthy Farm later this month
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Glastonbury: Stormzy fans left thrilled with headline Pyramid Stage set in 2019
Lenny Henry has suggested there’s often a lack of diversity in the crowd at festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, with him having shared his surprise over such audiences.
The comedian, 63, shared his opinion ahead of the annual festival returning to Worthy Farm later this month, with Billie Eilish, 20, and Diana Ross, 76, among the line-up this year.
The actor – who fronts a new BBC documentary exploring identity and heritage later this month – has suggested the audiences at the festival have historically not been diverse.
Discussing diversity in a recent interview, he commented: “It’s interesting to watch Glastonbury and look at the audience and not see any black people there.”
Lenny Henry spoke about diversity at festivals in a recent interview
Image:
( Getty Images)
He’s understood to have made the comments to journalist Clive Myrie, 57, during a recent discussion for the Radio Times, as reported by the Independent this week.
Lenny further commented: “I’m always surprised by the lack of black and brown faces at festivals.” He added: “I think, ‘Wow, that’s still very much a dominant culture thing’.”
His comments come amid Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis, 42, saying that rapper Stormzy, 28, being the first black solo British headliner at the festival had been overdue.
He mentioned Glastonbury as an example of a festival with a lack of diversity in the crowds
Image:
( Getty Images)
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Stormzy had headlined the annual music festival in 2019, with his historic performance on the Pyramid stage having been hailed at the time by critics and fans alike.
Emily spoke about the “important moment” in the event’s history for a BC Two documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of the festival, as reported by Somerset Live.
Emily Eavis recently spoke about Stormzy becoming the festival’s first black solo British headliner
Image:
( Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Stormzy headlined the festival in 2019
Image:
( Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Emily said: “He was representing the black community in a very predominately white festival. Obviously that’s a really important moment for us but it’s also a little bit late maybe.”
The co-organiser of the annual music festival – who is the daughter of its founder Michael Eavis, 86 – suggested in the documentary: “We should have probably done it before.”
The Mirror approached a rep of Glastonbury for comment.
Lenny’s documentary Carribbean Britain will be on BBC Two next Wednesday (June 22). Glastonbury: 50 Years and Counting will air on the same channel this Sunday at 9pm.
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