Hollyoaks' Rachel Adedeji slams co-star Lysette Anthony amid racism accusations

Hollyoaks star Rachel Adedeji furiously hit out at her co-star Lysette Anthony just days after accusing the soap of ‘behind the scenes’ racism.

The actress, 28, took to Twitter to slam the star, 56, who appeared to hit out at cast members who had supported Rachel in choosing to speak out, in a WhatsApp exchange tweeted by former star Charlie Clapham.

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.’

Angry: Hollyoaks star Rachel Adedeji, 28, furiously hit out at her co-star Lysette Anthony just days after accusing the soap of ‘behind the scenes’ racism

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.

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.’

In the messages, Lysette – who joined the soap as Marnie Nightingale 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.’

Rage: Lysette (pictured December 2019) was criticised for appearing to brand her co-stars as ‘traitors’ for supporting Rachel in her decision to speak out

Drama: Ex-Hollyoaks star Charlie Clapham shared a Whatsapp exchange in which Lysette appeared to make the comments relating to Rachel’s recent claims

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.

‘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.

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)

On Wednesday Rachel confirmed that 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.

Fury: Equally furious at Lysette’s comments, Rachel responded to Charlie’s tweet with a GIF of someone throwing rubbish into a bin

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

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 that 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.’

HOLLYOAKS’ STATEMENT IN FULL

‘Hollyoaks has been deeply shocked and saddened by issues that have been brought to our attention over the weekend.

‘Lime Pictures strives to have zero tolerance of racism or any form of discrimination across all of its shows but it is clear we have further work to do.

‘We must stamp out implicit bias which means calling out racism wherever and whenever we see it.

‘We will continue to add to our action plan as we continue and broaden our dialogue with cast and staff.

‘We are reaching out to all of our cast and staff that have raised matters to make sure that we address individual issues and concerns.

‘We have asked all cast, staff and freelancers to share with us any further issues of concern or instances of unacceptable behaviour that they have not previously raised.

‘We are working with unconscious bias trainers to augment Lime’s all staff training to help address concerns raised by cast and staff.

‘All BAME staff, freelancers and cast will be offered mentoring from Lime’s senior management.

‘We will build on our work towards making Lime as diverse and inclusive as possible across all aspects of recruitment and talent retention, on and off screen.

‘Lime’s BAME writers and directors schemes will be reviewed and augmented to drive greater inclusivity within the industry.

‘We are undertaking an immediate and in depth review of company and cast liaison across Lime.

‘We will be producing a Hollyoaks podcast where our black cast will share their experiences on racism to their audience.

‘We are very conscious that we need to do more and are committed to making changes that we need to make.

‘The onus is upon our company collectively and us all as individuals within our community to tackle racism, and it is a responsibility which all of us here at Hollyoaks are taking on fully.’

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

Chauvin has now been charged with second-degree murder. Floyd was initially arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit 20-dollar bill.

But Kelle revealed on Monday’s Loose Women that she has received racial abuse from trolls since speaking about measures.

The Eternal star, 45, detailed how she has been working with Hollyoaks bosses to launch a new forum for the black cast to report any racism they have been subjected to on set, which she announced in the video.

Saying she had received racist remarks from trolls over the weekend since taking part in a video for the soap, Kelle said: ‘It’s been really difficult. I’ve been seen as an Uncle Tom, a coconut, a clown, a puppet to be used.

It’s been a difficult weekend, and for the whole of the black cast of Hollyoaks, we’ve been dealing with our own personal journey and with the tragedy of George Floyd. It’s hurtful and I’m a real person.’

Discussion: It came Hollyoaks uploaded a video of actress Kelle Bryan, who plays Martine Deveraux, discussing the issues following the senseless killing of George Floyd

Of her own experience on set of the soap, she said: ‘Way before the Black Lives Matter movement took place I was able to articulate my grievances and concerns within Hollyoaks.

‘I had taken them through the HR procedures, and said what my feeling were and making sure those changes are implemented, not just heard but implemented.’

Discussing how cast members can discuss their grievances, Kelle said: ‘There are changes that are happening. I’m really grateful that our voices are finally being heard.

‘There are changes in terms of influence over scripts, the direction of storylines, and also having a podcast, which will give black cast members the opportunity to speak from the heart about their own experiences and help to educate our audience.

Slammed: Meanwhile, Rachel has said she is ‘disappointed’ and directly called the show out over racist incidents she says happened while she worked on the soap (pictured last year)

‘It’s really important. It’s a series of podcasts that are going to happen over the next few weeks. It’s a slow and steady process but I also want to make sure that it’s consistent systemic changes.

‘In order for that to happen, these conversations, which are very difficult, have to happen first,’ she concluded.

Meanwhile, Rachel has said she is ‘disappointed’ and directly called the show out over racist incidents she says happened while she worked on the soap.

Actress Mandip Gill, who played Phoebe McQuee in Hollyoaks until she left in 2015, replied to Rachel’s statement with a series of clapping emojis.

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

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.

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