BuzzJack Music Forum _ Little Mix _ Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power • BBC Documentary
Posted by: caseclosed 12th August 2020, 02:25 AM
Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock confirmed to front a new BBC Three documentary
The one-off hour-long documentary will also at the wider race issues the country is facing and shine a light on how Leigh-Anne, a member of one of the biggest girl groups in the world, has come to believe that we live in a profoundly racist society. The more she learns about systemic racism in Britain, the more she feels she must do something. But what and how?
Leigh-Anne has experienced racism during her life and is at a genuine crossroads. She is aware that having lighter skin and being a celebrity means she is sometimes said to be in a more privileged position than others. She wants to explore this and use her platform to debate these issues too.
Cameras will have intimate, behind the scenes access to her as she works through important issues and questions about race and racism that will shape future generations across the globe.
The documentary will follow her as she meets people who’ll help her address these big questions. She will speak with her family, friends, and seek advice from her role models. Cameras will see her behind the scenes with Little Mix and at home as she processes what she’s learning and comes to a view on what to do.
Speaking about the project, Leigh-Anne said “I want to make this film because I have always been passionate about rights for black people. Conversations surrounding racism and colourism are something I constantly have with my boyfriend and family, and as I have a platform, I want to use that platform to bring this conversation to a wider audience and stand up for my black and brown community."
Adding "Systemic racism is complex; through making this documentary I want to learn how I can best lend my voice to the debate so that the young people who look up to me won't have to face what me and my generation have had to.”
The documentary is being produced by Kandise Abiola and will be the debut film of director and Leigh-Anne’s childhood friend, Tash Gaunt.
BBC Three Controller Fiona Campbell said “We are constantly having conversations about race and discrimination and how we can cover it on BBC Three in a way that can contribute to making positive and permanent change."
"This is a film we commissioned a few months ago and the start of filming with Leigh-Anne has coincided with the tragic death of George Floyd and the current protests and debates which have brought these issues into sharper focus for her, for Britain and the world."
"By working with high profile talent like Leigh-Anne, and other important individuals she will meet through this process, we hope the honest conversations this film will feature will have the power to change attitudes, offer insight and help to prevent racism in our society.”
And Richard Bond, Managing Director for Dragonfly Film & TV who are making the film, added “This is a historic moment for civil rights, and we are honoured to be working with such a high profile figure as Leigh-Anne on a film which is so important to her personally, and which will hopefully help to highlight and combat the injustice of systemic racism in the UK and around the world.”
Will be very powerful (agreed) Going to be another tough watch
Posted by: Tafty 3rd May 2021, 10:16 AM
The date for this is 10 days away. Surprised BBC haven't been promoting it more tbh?
Anyway, much HYPE for this.
May 13th, from 6am on the iPlayer and BBC Three
Posted by: troylovesmusic 11th May 2021, 10:08 AM
Leigh Anne’s very important documentary about racism and colourism is coming to BBC3 Three and BBCi Player on Thursday . You can see a few preview clips of the documentary below with some appearances from other women of colour in the industry such as Alexandra Burke, Keisha Buchanan, RAYE and Nao as well as appearances from Jade , her family, and Fiancé Andre.
Can’t wait to watch this !
Posted by: Warwick Avenue 11th May 2021, 10:18 AM
This looks really interesting, hopefully I’ll be able to see it in Australia.
Posted by: troylovesmusic 11th May 2021, 10:41 AM
So trash that this is still happening really Metro ? ....
Posted by: Tafty 11th May 2021, 01:28 PM
Merged the two threads!
LMAO at that article. What a mess. So happy she called them out on it. Ridiculous.
Posted by: Chemistry 12th May 2021, 12:23 PM
I wonder when it will be broadcasted on BBC1 or BBC2 (as they usually do with these kind of BBC3 shows); I really want to see this but can't access 3 over here.
Posted by: Herbs 12th May 2021, 12:30 PM
QUOTE(troylovesmusic @ May 11 2021, 11:41 AM)
So trash that this is still happening really Metro ? ....
I cannot believe stuff like this - surely there are fact checkers?! Even without a fact checker, this shows how out of touch the writers are with modern pop culture
Posted by: troylovesmusic 12th May 2021, 06:45 PM
QUOTE(Chemistry @ May 12 2021, 01:23 PM)
I wonder when it will be broadcasted on BBC1 or BBC2 (as they usually do with these kind of BBC3 shows); I really want to see this but can't access 3 over here.
Leigh Anne’s just posted that it will air on BBC1 tomorrow at 9pm UK time !
Posted by: Slayer 12th May 2021, 08:01 PM
Love her, can't wait to watch!
Posted by: Tafty 12th May 2021, 08:59 PM
Yep BBC One tomorrow at 9pm and available on the iPlayer from midnight tonight!
I might hold off and watch live tomorrow just to help w ratings etc.. HYPED.
Posted by: Chemistry 13th May 2021, 05:37 AM
QUOTE(troylovesmusic @ May 12 2021, 06:45 PM)
Leigh Anne’s just posted that it will air on BBC1 tomorrow at 9pm UK time !
Ah, perfect. Thanks! So exciting this is being broadcasted at on BBC One at primetime as well.
Posted by: Tafty 13th May 2021, 12:30 PM
Excited to watch this tonight
Posted by: Mr. C. Joel 13th May 2021, 01:28 PM
Watched at midnight haha!
It’s great, I loved when she was talking with all the other pop women sharing their experiences it’s a real eye opener.
Also, I won’t spoil it but how they styled her in the early days was shocking really.
Brazil is a moment too, I’m glad she got to experience that after feeling so left out.
She’s incredible, however I’m really not keen on Andre at all (I don’t think this doc shows him in a good light either)
Posted by: troylovesmusic 13th May 2021, 04:18 PM
Waiting to watch it at 9pm on BBC One to give it the viewers but I’m hearing great things about it so far from people who’ve watched already . Can’t wait to see it !
Posted by: shadow2009 13th May 2021, 06:53 PM
Hmm.
I do love Leigh and won't ever doubt that she's genuinely suffering from being known as 'the black one' and there was definitely those microaggressions in the X-Factor/DNA eras in terms of her styling but that segment with Emma Willis where they picked 3 fans to choose a favourite was a reach. In that case someone is always going to miss out if there's 4 girls and 3 fans. I've already saw people pointing that out on social media and it's pretty fair.
Posted by: Ho-Lee Smokes 13th May 2021, 09:00 PM
the way that she dragged her record label *.*
Posted by: shindymindy 13th May 2021, 09:02 PM
The label bit was interesting and disappointing.
Overall the docu is good - well done to Leigh Anne for doing this.
Posted by: troylovesmusic 13th May 2021, 09:09 PM
I’m so proud of Leigh Anne. As a black person I love how she shared and talked so openly about her experiences as well as doing her research and educating herself and realising her privilege being a light skinned black girl . A really great documentary !
Posted by: Tafty 13th May 2021, 09:14 PM
QUOTE(shadow2009 @ May 13 2021, 07:53 PM)
Hmm.
I do love Leigh and won't ever doubt that she's genuinely suffering from being known as 'the black one' and there was definitely those microaggressions in the X-Factor/DNA eras in terms of her styling but that segment with Emma Willis where they picked 3 fans to choose a favourite was a reach. In that case someone is always going to miss out if there's 4 girls and 3 fans. I've already saw people pointing that out on social media and it's pretty fair.
Idg why they even asked 3 fans of a 4-member group in the first place who their favourite member is, to air on television? That's just ridiculous. Also, I feel like that (from the sound of it) was the moment for her that made her first question everything that had happened before. I mean, she's not wrong? All throughout their journey on XF she was most commonly placed last in rankings of the group or very rarely anybodies top pick and labelled as "the one who couldn't sing" etc.. it was all obviously building up and she'd been conditioned to keep it all in and not question it.
I'm surprised they didn't mention about articles confusing her and Jade (no, I don't mean the recent one with the Metro when filming was all done etc..), but other than that I really liked it. I thought that entire talk with Keisha, Alexandra, RAYE & Nao was a big moment. Proud of her for standing her ground against the label too and fighting for that meeting, but it's frustrating that she had to fight for it when all she wanted to do was talk to them about it all.
Posted by: Tafty 13th May 2021, 09:16 PM
QUOTE(troylovesmusic @ May 13 2021, 10:09 PM)
I’m so proud of Leigh Anne. As a black person I love how she shared her experiences as well as doing her research and also realising her privilege being a light skinned black girl . A really great documentary !
Oh yes! This whole section was really interesting and I was really happy to see her talk about it after seeing those kind of comments when she posted the video.
Posted by: Klaus 13th May 2021, 10:27 PM
The shaved side of her hair has always been an issue for her, I remember she was uncomfortable with it in the VT on X Factor and it’s been talked about in a number of interviews. I’d have liked it to have focused a bit more on how they styled/marketed her in the early days as it does feel a push towards ‘urban’ whilst the others got to be pop. I’m sure the hair stylist wouldn’t have been black. I’ve never fully appreciated in the Wings video that her backdrop was graffiti whereas Perrie got flowers and Jade bow ties.
It felt similar to Fifth Harmony where Normani was pushed to the front of the more R&B style songs, definitely in the brginning e.g. Bo$$ despite not being the lead in the song itself.
It’s those sort of themes that felt were being touched on, particularly in the artist group part, but it would have been interesting to push it further.
Definitely interesting to see her push her label though!
Posted by: Slayer 13th May 2021, 10:28 PM
Such a great documentary! I'm so proud of her!
Leigh-Anne is amazing!
Posted by: Klaus 13th May 2021, 10:35 PM
Also, a large proportion of backing singers in TV performances and concerts/festivals etc are black, yet the amount of leading black pop stars is so disproportionately small.
Brilliant documentary, really sensitively done - for example I agree about the fact she recognised her privilege being lighter skinned. But she still made it pertinent to her and raised all the issues that needed to be raised, I love that she included darker skinned people, other light-skinned people, got so many different perspectives and raised the issues that needed to be raised on all accounts, I loved the bit with Keisha and Alexandra in particular and getting their accounts compared to and added to Leigh's.
I love that she is standing up to the label too and that she pushed to get some answers, I know that not everyone would do that. Leigh is brilliant
Posted by: Jade 14th May 2021, 10:02 PM
Leigh came across so well. Great to see her wanting to spearhead change at her label and on a broader scale with the foundation. I also also found that natural, honest conversation between her and the other ladies in the industry really fascinating and heartbreaking to watch. They deserve so much better!
(on a completely unrelated note her house is absolutely gorgeous!)
Posted by: Tombo 15th May 2021, 08:44 AM
This was emotional and an important documentary. It’s horrible what she, and the other featured artists, in the documentary have had to go through.
Hopefully more changes will start to occur in the label, the industry and society at large
Posted by: sjadeupdate 15th May 2021, 12:44 PM
The full doc is here:
Posted by: sjadeupdate 15th May 2021, 04:26 PM
Posted by: pippa 15th May 2021, 08:37 PM
Leigh Anne's documentary was very capturing and heartfelt.
Posted by: troylovesmusic 17th May 2021, 07:18 PM
QUOTE(sjadeupdate @ May 15 2021, 05:26 PM)
1.1 million viewers is pretty great especially for a documentary!
Posted by: spiceboy 23rd May 2021, 07:57 PM
I learnt more watching this as I never really noticed the privilege that lighter skinned black people also have over darker skinned black people. It was very brave of Leigh-Anne to talk about this and question her own privilege over others. It's really shocking as a whole and more needs to be done to address this issue. Hope she gets the recognition she deserves like Jesy did.
