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Leigh-Anne Pinnock praised for confronting fiance Andre Gray over colourist tweet

Andre Gray and Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix pose for photographers upon arrival at the Brit Awards in London, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Andre Gray and Leigh-Anne Pinnock are expecting a baby together. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Leigh-Anne Pinnock has been praised by viewers after confronting her fiancé Andre Gray over a previous colourist tweet in her new documentary.

Race, Pop And Power sees the Little Mix singer and other Black female stars discussing racism in the music industry and addresses colourism, where darker skinned people face more discrimination and prejudice.

In one scene, Pinnock tackles Gray – who she is expecting a baby with - about an old message in which he said Black women wearing red lipstick look like “burnt toast with jam on it”.

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The singer said she “felt a bit sick” after seeing the tweet.

“I was really upset because I was just like, 'Who is this person? This is horrible.' That wasn’t the person that I knew. When they surfaced, my heart sank. Because I was like, 'That is not the person that I met. It sounds like a child, like a silly child'."

Pinnock, who was not pregnant when she made the programme, told Gray: “We could have a child and it could come out darker than us.”

The footballer said there was “no excuse” for the message, which was from 2012.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14:  Leigh-Anne Pinnock (L) and Andre Gray attend Dita Von Teese X Absolut Elyx at The Box on November 14, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Leigh-Anne Pinnock confronted Andre Gray in her documentary. (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

"There's no excuse at all, when it all came out and stuff, like obviously I was embarrassed, ashamed, disappointed… but at the same time I had to be a man about it,” he said.

"I've made that mistake and I've learnt, and I've educated myself and grew up to understand how offensive and how wrong it was what I did. There was never any malice, but again, no excuse."

Viewers have now said how “brave” Pinnock was for raising it.

"Leigh Anne calling out and educating Andre... that's so strong of her to show it in the documentary... no words, just so proud," one person tweeted.

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Another said: "I'm so so so proud of her for being so brave."

"I’m so glad Leigh Anne pulled up Andre’s past tweets, it’s so important to address all issues no matter how close people are to you," said another.

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