Wongutha-Yamatji actor Meyne Wyatt has weighed in with his own accusations of racism and homophobia on set of Neighbours, hours after fellow Aboriginal actor and upcoming guest star Shareena Clanton first spoke out about alleged racism behind the scenes.
Wyatt was the first Indigenous main cast member on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016. Just like Clanton, he said that he also personally experienced racism on set.
“It involved the C-word and I called it out and it didn’t happen around me again,” he wrote in a Twitter thread.
“Though I did walk in on this incident, so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back. I have too much experience to believe otherwise.
“And it is disappointing but not at all surprising to hear that five years later racism continues to be present in that workplace. But what can you say, we are in Australia.”
Wyatt also pointed out that the racism problem in the Austrlian TV industry goes beyond what’s said behind the scenes, giventhat First Nations actors are still so underrepresented on prime time TV.
“I don’t see a lot of Indigenous actors on the show or on any prime time television series, whether it be Neighbours, Home and Away, anything on Channel 7, 9 or Ten for that matter,” he said.
“Stan and Netflix take note! But these attitudes are prevalent throughout the industry.”
I was a series regular on Neighbours between 2014 to 2016 and I experienced Racism on set. It involved the C word and I called it out and it didn’t happen around me again. Though I did walk in on this incident? so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back.
— Meyne Wyatt (@meynewyatt) April 6, 2021
Then there’s the fact the onus is continually on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to call out racism when it shouldn’t even exist in the first place.
“And we are fucken tired of calling this shit out. Individuals, actors, cast and crews!” Wyatt said.
“To the Production companies, to the networks! Do better, be better. You can always do better.
“The work is not finished. Even when you think you have, just know you haven’t. Because you haven’t.
“It saves time from me calling you a racist and humiliating you, if you don’t do shit the first place!”
It saves time from me calling you a racist and humiliating you, if you don’t do shit the first place! And on top of that, the Homophobia that was present whilst I was on Neighbours, was fucking rampant! The comments and jokes and innuendos were ridiculous!
— Meyne Wyatt (@meynewyatt) April 6, 2021
In addition to the alleged racism on set, Wyatt also added that homophobia was “fucking rampant” while he was in the cast Neighbours.
“The comments and jokes and innuendos were ridiculous!” he said.
“It made for a very unsafe environment for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community and the shit needs to be stamped out.”
Regarding Shareena Clanton’s allegations of racism earlier in the day, former Network Ten drama executive Dan Bennett told TV Blackbox that the allegations were shocking.
“I’m finding this story hard to reconcile. But I am beyond convinced it will be investigated to the fullest, and that every and all appropriate actions taken,” he said.
Ultimately, Wyatt pointed out that issues such as racism and homophobia aren’t unique to just one or two TV shows, and that the only way to eradicate them is to continuously speak out when you encounter it.
“Racism and homophobia needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out!” he said.
“Neighbours do better! The film and TV Industry do better! Australia do better!”
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You can also report instances of racism or discrimination to the Australian Human Rights Commission on 1300 656 419 or lodge a complaint online.
