Hollyoaks star Lysette Anthony has quit Twitter after facing backlash amid the show’s racism row.
The actress, 56, who plays Marnie Nightingale, was called ‘actual trash’ by Rachel Adedeji, 28, who quit the soap following accusations of ‘behind-the-scenes’ racism.
Lysette deactivated her profile after her former co-star Charlie Clapham, shared a screenshot of a text allegedly from her hitting out at cast members who supported Rachel.
Upset: Hollyoaks star Lysette Anthony has quit Twitter after facing backlash amid the show’s racism row
In the messages, Lysette appeared to claim stars who supported Rachel were ‘traitors,’ before adding: ‘Sorry but we’re not going to have a job to come back to if this stuff keeps being disseminated.’
Charlie – who played Freddie Roscoe on Hollyoaks from 2013 to 2017 – shared the series of messages which appeared to be discussing Rachel’s decision to speak out about her experience on the soap on Saturday.
Rachel has accused the show of ‘behind-the-scenes’ racism after criticising their response to the recent furore over the Black Lives Matter movement, leading soap bosses to apologise and announce a plan to ‘stamp out discrimination.’
Row: The actress, 56, who plays Marnie Nightgale, was called ‘actual trash’ by Rachel Adedeji, 28, who quit the soap following accusations of ‘behind-the-scenes’ racism
Drama: Ex-Hollyoaks star Charlie Clapham shared a Whatsapp exchange in which Lysette appeared to make the comments relating to Rachel’s recent claims
Fury: Equally furious at Lysette’s comments, Rachel responded to Charlie’s tweet with a GIF of someone throwing rubbish into a bin
In the messages, Lysette – who joined the soap in 2016 – wrote: ‘Well, to be fair they both have that embittered, traitor vibe going on.
‘Sorry but we’re not going to have a job to come back to if this stuff keeps being disseminated.’
Re-posting the messages Charlie angrily posted: ‘Dear @chezLysette if supporting a former castmate, whilst she speaks of being racially discriminated against, makes me a traitor… then so be it.
Fuming: He shared the messages with a tweet slamming Lysette’s comments, which was quickly supported by Rachel and several other stars (pictured in May 2016)
‘As for embittered, you’re currently finishing (finished) where I started out. Salty much? – Best, CC/FR.’
Equally furious at Lysette’s comments, Rachel responded to Charlie’s tweet with a GIF of someone throwing rubbish into a bin.
She wrote: ‘@chezLysette you are actual trash.. Charlie, you are a King and a true ally!! Love you my bro! X x.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lysette Anthony for comment. Representatives for Hollyoaks and Adedeji declined to comment.
Departing: On Wednesday Rachel confirmed that she had quit Hollyoaks after four years on the soap. She filmed her exit scenes before the country was placed in lockdown
On Wednesday, Rachel confirmed she had quit Hollyoaks after four years on the soap, with bosses announcing her final scenes will air later this year.
The former X Factor star filmed her exit earlier this year before filming was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rachel made the decision to leave the show last year, with a Hollyoaks spokesman saying the show was ‘saddened’ by her departure.
The announcement came one day after Hollyoaks also released a statement in response to Rachel’s accusations of racism while working on the show.
Bosses detailed they were ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ by issues detailed by Rachel, and stated the soap has a ‘zero tolerance on racism or any form of discrimination.’
The show detailed a series of steps they have launched in order to ‘stamp out discrimination.’
The statement comes after Rachel slammed the show’s response to the recent furore over the Black Lives Matter movement.
The star took to her Twitter to say she doesn’t agree with Hollyoaks’ recent post addressing the movement, noting it wasn’t progressive after revealing she was aware of racial slurs and injustices happening on set.
Hollyoaks uploaded a video of actress Kelle Bryan, who plays Martine Deveraux, discussing the movement’s issues.
A recent surge in interest of the Black Lives Matter movement was kickstarted by the senseless killing of George Floyd, who died after a white policeman, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Racism: The statement comes after Rachel slammed the show’s response to the recent furore over the Black Lives Matter movement, detailing racist incidents she says happened backstage
This prompted Rachel to talk about her own experience of racism.
The soap star said she was ‘disappointed’ and directly called the show out over racist incidents she says happened during her time on Hollyoaks.
Actress Mandip Gill, who played Phoebe McQueen in Hollyoaks until she left in 2015, replied to Rachel’s statement with a series of clapping emojis.
And Karl Collins, who played Rachel’s onscreen father Louis Loveday in Hollyoaks until 2019, showed his support and praised her ‘bravery.’
Amanda, who portrayed Holly Cunningham on the show from 2013 to 2019, took to Twitter and Instagram on Sunday to implore her former colleagues to put forth a more concerted effort, amid protests over racial injustice sweeping the globe.
Missive: Former Hollyoaks castmember Amanda Clapham also took to Twitter and Instagram on Sunday to implore her former colleagues to put forth a more concerted effort
A Hollyoaks spokesperson previously said: ‘We are really concerned to read Rachel’s comments on social media about Hollyoaks this evening. We will be in touch with Rachel directly.’
Earlier in the week, Hollyoaks bosses announced production crew will return to the set in Liverpool this week and filming will resume in full from July.
Production on the soap was stopped at the end of March just before the UK went into lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Channel 4 show, which is currently airing two nights a week, will then increase its output to four episodes a week from September with an aim to return to its full five episodes a week in 2021.
Back to work: Earlier in the week, Hollyoaks bosses announced production crew will return to the set in Liverpool this week and filming will resume in full from July