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Love Island’s Georgia Harrison denies being racist as ‘blackface’ pictures surface


Georgia wore the face paint when she was 19 (Picture: @georgialouiseharrison/Instagram)

Love Island star Georgia Harrison has insisted she is not racist after accusations that she wore blackface.

The 24-year-old is currently starring on the US reality series The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2, but has come under fire from viewers who discovered old pictures of her with her face painted black.

The pictures, taken when Georgia was 19, show her smiling widely with her face entirely painted black – but the Essex girl has claimed that it was simply face paint at a kids’ birthday party.

A spokesperson for Georgia told the Mail Online: ‘Georgia let the birthday boy pick what she had done and that was it.

Georgia appeared on series three of Love Island (Picture: ITV)
Georgia said the pictures were taken at a kids birthday party (Picture: @georgialouiseharrison/Instagram)

‘At no point did Georgia think it was offensive or hold any negative connotations.

‘The little boy asked for her face to be painted black and then asked for her to have a moustache like a cowboy.

‘Georgia would like to publicly apologise for any hurt or upset she’s caused with this old photograph and will learn from the situation.’

The hashtag #GeorgiaIsOverParty began to trend in the US after the pictures circulated on social media.

Georgia Harrison racist tweet

Georgia Harrison racist tweet

Georgia Harrison racist tweet

Georgia’s The Challenge co-star Kayleigh Morris tweeted that the reality star wasn’t racist, but blasted how she handled the situation.

The Ex On The Beach star wrote: ‘I have actually said number of times over last 48 hours she’s not a racist. But her actions are disgusting. And anyone excusing her actions need educating.

‘She’s not a racist. I do not believe that for a second. Regardless of my dislike towards Georgia. I do not need to agree with what ppl only assume. I lived with Georgia. I have my own views on her. Her stupidity is what this post is. Everyone has a past. She is entitled to grow.

The Challenge viewers called for Georgia to be cancelled (Picture: The Challenge MTV Instagram)

‘She’s also not able to justify or explain herself. But arrogance and ignorance of ppl defending it for a kids party joke is the issue that ppl need to acknowledge. Black face has and will always be offensive. Regardless of the country it’s done [sic].’

And Rogan O’Connor, who also stars on The Challenge, tweeted: ‘Not always seen eye to eye with Georgia.. or Theo for that matter, but gotta agree with him on this one.. Georgia looks like a child in those pictures and although I know “black face” is offensive, I really think her silly make up was more ignorance than racism.’

The Challenge sees UK reality stars including Love Island’s Theo Campbell, Ex On The Beach stars Joss Mooney and Stephen Bear and Geordie Shore’s Kyle Christie compete against their US counterparts in extreme challenges.

Georgia starred on Towie before going on to star on the third series of Love Island, when she hooked up with Sam Gowland.



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