Aimee Walker
The Chase professional quizzer, Shaun Wallace, has responded to claims that his show’s nickname is ‘racist’.
The 60-year-old, known as ‘The Dark Destroyer,’ has hit back at Paula Rhone-Adrien, a London lawyer, who stated during a segment on Lorraine that she doesn’t allow her kids to watch the programme because she thinks it’s ‘offensive’.
Taking to Twitter, he said: “I am proud to be dark in skin who destroys his opponents intellectually.”
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The issue all began when Rhone-Adrien made the comments on the ITV daytime show.
At the time, she said: “We have a fantastic game show. A quiz show which is on but the only person who is black is named ‘The Dark Destroyer’.
“Now I do not let my children watch the first 10 minutes of this amazing quiz show because I do not want my kids to hear this amazing mastermind champion described purely down to the colour of his skin.”
After watching the segment, viewers took to Twitter and also shared their thoughts on the matter.
One person tweeted: “Interesting debate here. So Shaun Wallace (Dark Destroyer on The Chase) is also on the Australian version but is called ‘The Destroyer’.
“So why is the ‘Dark’ part there really does make me think we need to stop negative language use towards POC [people of colour].”
“I’ve always thought it weird he’s not just called the destroyer,” added another.
One person tweeted the quizmaster directly and asked whether he could clarify if he was ‘offended’ by it.
They wrote: “Just heard a woman on Lorraine saying she won’t let her child watch the chase because it’s racist due to your nickname. Can you clarify if you are offended by being called the ‘Dark Destroyer’?”
He responded, writing: “Absolutely NOT!!!”
Surprised by his answer, another commented: “Really? Hope this lawyer has been put right. Am sure that if @TheShaunWallace had a problem with the nickname ‘The Dark Destroyer’, then @ITVChase wouldn’t use it? #TheChase.”
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