First Nations actors accuse ‘Neighbours’ cast and crew of racism

Aboriginal actors Shareena Clanton and Meyne Wyatt have revealed allegations of the racism they endured while working on Neighbours. 

In separate social media posts, Clanton and Wyatt detailed incidents that allegedly occurred during their time on the show.

Clanton, a Wongatha, Yamatji, Noongar and Gitja woman, said on Instagram that it had been “lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe place”.

After having filmed a guest role in a series of upcoming episodes of Neighbours, Clanton said that both “overt and covert levels of racism were rife” on the set.

Without naming anyone directly, she alleged that there were two instances where the “n-word” were used on set.

Clanton said that when she confronted the actor who used the slurs, she was told by staff to “go somewhere else” because she was “making others ‘uncomfortable'”.

On top of that, she said she also witnessed a white actor referring to another actor of colour as a ‘lil’ monkey’.

Clanton went on to allege that a fellow actor laughed at the use of the n-word but then lied to HR and said she “misconstrued” the situation after being confronted about the incident.

Other allegations included an agent encouraging “office banter” after another staff member used the term “slave driver”.

Clanton said she was left feeling “ostracised and further marginalised” after calling out the behaviour and was told by HR they were unsure of “what else they could do.”

Lastly, Clanton said she had to pay for a Wurundjeri elder to be on set for “cultural safety reasons” after production told her they did not have the budget.

The post concluded with Clanton saying that she would never work for Neighbours again.

Off the back of Clanton’s post, a spokesperson for Fremantle Media released a statement that said there were “significant and lengthy discussions” with Clanton during her time on the show.

“Neighbours strives to be a platform for diversity and inclusion on-screen and off-screen,” the spokesperson said.

“Our quest is always to continue to grow and develop in this area and we acknowledge that this is an evolving process. Shareena’s involvement in the creative process and on set was invaluable and hugely educational and will benefit the series moving forward.”

Following Clanton’s statement, another former Neighbours star Meyne Wyatt alleged he had also experienced racism on set.

The Wongutha-Yamatji actor, who in 2014 was the first Aboriginal person to become a main cast member on an Australian soap opera, said the incident involved the use of a racial slur.

“I called it out and it didn’t happen around me again,” he wrote in a Twitter post.

“Though I did walk in on this incident, so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back.”

Wyatt said it was “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,” he said.

Wyatt also said that there was “rampant” homophobia on the show which led to a “very unsafe environment for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community”.

“The comments and jokes and innuendos were ridiculous!” he said, “Neighbours do better! The Film and TV Industry do better! Australia do better!”

For more on this topic, head over to the Film & TV Observer.

Check out Shareena Clanton and Meyne Wyatt’s posts about racism on Neighbours:

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