Nikeata Thompson: “My skin color is perfect”

Nikeata Thompson is a happy person on television. But what their fans had to see now shocked many. The dancer was threatened on the street. At t-online she talks about the incident.

“You’re a Nigerian drug seller,” the man in the bucket hat taunts her. With a cigarette in his mouth and a mouth and nose protector on his chin, the unknown gentleman runs towards Nikeata Thompson. The situation looks threatening. Everything is captured on a cell phone video that Thompson himself shared via Instagram, among others.

Irreverent expressions and degrading sentences like: “We’re going to burn Nigeria.” The man, obviously deeply racist, moves only a few centimeters away from Nikeata Thompson in the video. He looks upset and yells in her face: “Anyone who is not with us is against us. Heads will roll.”

“I’m not perfect, but the color of my skin is”

This incident happened in Berlin. At the request of t-online, Nikeata Thompson reports that three men initially made fun of her and did not want to intervene. Then, when someone came, the attacker’s insults became more and more violent. “After five to ten minutes, a passer-by showed moral courage and asked the man to leave,” Thompson recalls. “However, this only annoyed him more and the insults became more violent. Gradually, a cluster of other passers-by formed around us to protect us and get rid of the man. Experiencing this support was empowering and important because I unfortunately have experienced far too seldom.”

The fact that the GNTM star was able to remain so calm during the verbal attack has a sad background: Nikeata Thompson is used to racism: “For as long as I can remember, I have often been treated condescendingly. The publication of my book made it even more visible and clear how much the topic of racism has shaped, haunted and influenced me throughout my life.” Her clear statement against racism: “I know I’m not perfect, but my skin color is, it’s just as normal as white skin!”

Together with her make-up artist and five people who showed civil courage, she informed the Berlin police. “These people did not leave our side and waited with us for the police officers to file a complaint against insult and hate speech.” Thus, the racist attack could have legal consequences for the man in the video.

Thompson was on his way to Kurt Krömer and his show “Chez Krömer”. She told the comedian about the incident. He decided to address what he had just experienced on his talk show. The TV star is aware that this is a privileged situation: “I appreciate the tireless support of my allies. Even if I definitely live in my privileged celebrity bubble. Not everyone has the luxury of sharing their experience and giving them such a wide hearing .”

Thompson: “We were actually in danger”

The German-British dancer and choreographer, known from GNTM or “Got to Dance”, among other things, had previously reported on Instagram what happened. “There was a racist situation outside my office,” Thompson said. “Something like this happens to me regularly, but it’s not okay,” said the 41-year-old in a short excerpt that she posted on her Instagram story.

In a video recorded later, she begins to cry. In the 25-minute post, she tried to keep her composure, but tears rolled down her face. “I just wanted to say thank you and not cry here, it’s getting on my nerves,” Thompson continued.

“Civil courage is so important,” she appealed to her fans. people should help each other. She thanked everyone who promised her support and expressed their sympathy. Nevertheless, it was “crazy” how other people on the street in Berlin “amused” reacted to the incident. “We were actually in danger,” said Thompson, expressing her incomprehension for the lack of solidarity from these onlookers.

In the meantime, the police in Berlin have commented on the incident: The stranger from the video “has already been identified by our colleagues from the A16. The report of incitement to hatred is already on its way to state security,” according to a message on Twitter.