Myha'la rejects claim she was banished from Celebrity Traitors for being Black
After being banished from the second series of Celebrity Traitors, Myha'la answered an Instagram commenter who said race was the reason. Myha'la said they had "sealed my own fate" but agreed that unconscious bias exists in the game.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Myha'la, the actor known for Industry, was banished from the second series of the BBC's Celebrity Traitors in the round table on Thursday 8 October. The IndependentLC “kicked off in Thursday (8 October) night’s round table” Read at The Independent ↗ DeadlineN “The Industry actress was banished from Season 2 of The Celebrity Traitors last week” Read at Deadline ↗ Left · 1Myha'la had been made a Faithful. The Independent reports that winking at friend and Traitor Richard E Grant before voting him out in episode two led to them being labelled suspicious. The IndependentLC “Despite being made a Faithful, Myha’la’s decision to wink at friend (and Traitor) Richard E Grant before voting him out in episode two” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2After Myha'la posted about the experience on Instagram, a commenter wrote that they were banished because they are Black. Deadline names the commenter as entrepreneur Chantel Sachanna and quotes her as calling it "a consistent thread in this racist show". DeadlineN ““Unfortunately you were banished because you are BLACK. This is a consistent thread in this racist show.”” Read at Deadline ↗ The IndependentLC “told Myha’la “you were banished because you are Black”” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Myha'la replied that they "sealed my own fate". Besides the wink, Myha'la cited seeming reluctant to give up a shield in the challenge and sharing theories widely, and said there was "VERY little to grasp on to" so early in the game. The IndependentLC “seeming reluctant to give up her shield in the challenge and sharing her theories so widely” Read at The Independent ↗ DeadlineN ““I sealed my own fate! And that early in the game there is VERY little to grasp on to, and I gave them…a lot,”” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Myha'la also said they agreed that "unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game", making players' authenticity or honesty look suspicious to people unfamiliar with people like them. They said they had feared this before joining as a big fan of the show. DeadlineN ““However, I do agree that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game” Read at Deadline ↗ The IndependentLC ““I had this fear coming into the game, as I am a BIG fan” Read at The Independent ↗ Centre · 1Myha'la defended the other contestants, saying: "I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist, but I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race." Myha'la called the commenter's reading "not a fair or complete assessment" of their case and called for games like this to allow more conversation about unconscious bias. DeadlineN “I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race.”“I do think games like this should allow more conversation around unconscious bias” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1According to The Independent, Myha'la told another fan who said they were "exhausted" by suspicion cast on Black players that it was exhausting and that "we have every right to be tired of it". The IndependentLC ““I totally agree! It is exhausting, and we have every right to be tired of it. Sending love to you.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds context: unconscious bias has been discussed around The Traitors since 2022, and it reached new heights this year when the first three contestants eliminated on series four were all non-white. It also cites a Guardian report that ethnic minority dancers on Strictly Come Dancing were 71 per cent more likely to land in the bottom two. The IndependentLC “reached new heights earlier this year when the first three contestants eliminated on series four were all non-white”“ethnic minority dancers on Strictly Come Dancing were 71 per cent more likely to get voted into the bottom two” Read at The Independent ↗ Centre · 1Deadline said the BBC had been approached for comment. No response is reported. DeadlineN “The BBC has been approached for comment.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent presents Myha'la as defending co-stars while acknowledging bias, and puts the episode in the long-running debate over unconscious bias on The Traitors and reality TV.
- Emphasis
- Gameplay reasons for the exit, Myha'la's agreement with a second fan, and background on bias in The Traitors and Strictly, including a columnist's view.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the commenter or mention a BBC request for comment.
- Charged language
- “sealed my own fate”
- For example
-
“Myha’la defends Celebrity Traitors co-stars from racism claims: ‘I sealed my own fate’” — The Independent
“The discussion around unconscious bias has followed The Traitors since it began in 2022” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline leads with Myha'la's claim that unconscious racial bias is baked into the format, then says the contestant sealed their own fate. It is a short trade-press account built on the Instagram exchange.
- Emphasis
- The headline claim about bias, the named commenter and the BBC being approached for comment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the shield and theory-sharing details, the second fan exchange and the wider history of bias on the show.
- Charged language
- “Unconscious Racial Bias”“baked into”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Myha'la was banished from series two of Celebrity Traitors on the BBC.
- An Instagram commenter said Myha'la was banished because they are Black.
- Myha'la said they sealed their own fate, including by winking at Richard E Grant.
- Myha'la agreed unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in the game but defended co-stars from conscious bias.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether race caused the banishment
- Left
- The commenter's claim is presented alongside Myha'la's reply that gameplay mistakes were the cause, though unconscious bias exists in the game.
- Centre
- The same reply is framed around Myha'la's claim that unconscious bias is baked into the format, while also saying they sealed their own fate.
Myha'la person
Says they sealed their own fate through their gameplay, agrees unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in the game, and denies that their friends on the show consciously biased against them for their race.
““I sealed my own fate!” — Deadline
“who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race.” — Deadline
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Independent gives UK context, including Traitors series four and a Guardian report on Strictly.
“with a Guardian report finding that ethnic minority dancers on Strictly Come Dancing” — The Independent
The Independent
North America1 outlet
Deadline reports the exchange briefly, as an entertainment-industry item about an Industry star.
“has reflected on her experience on the Studio Lambert series in an Instagram post” — Deadline
Deadline
Left1 article
-
Myha’la defends Celebrity Traitors co-stars from racism claims: ‘I sealed my own fate’
Sympathetic Portrays Myha'la as gracious and defending co-stars, and sets the exchange within wider concerns about bias on reality TV.
Centre1 article
-
‘Industry’ Star Myha’la Claims “Unconscious Racial Bias” Is Baked Into ‘The Traitors’
Neutral Brief trade report that leads on the bias claim, names the commenter and notes the BBC was approached.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 12 Oct 11:06 First The IndependentLC Myha’la defends Celebrity Traitors co-stars from racism claims: ‘I sealed my own fate’
- 13 Oct 11:54 +24h 48m DeadlineN ‘Industry’ Star Myha’la Claims “Unconscious Racial Bias” Is Baked Into ‘The Traitors’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…