Backlash over Department for Education videos with Gemma Collins
May 23, 2026
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Pleazie Take
The UK Department for Education thought Gemma Collins, reality TV royalty, was the right face to promote post-16 education. And I ask you, when was the last time Black youth in Britain saw their aspirations reflected back at them in campaigns like this? The state funds ‘relatable’ influencers, but never the ones who speak to us.
Cheeky Synopsis
Gemma Collins teaches life lessons now? Guess ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ is straight through the Department for Education’s marketing budget.
Why It Matters
When public funding for education campaigns excludes Black cultural voices, it shapes who gets to imagine their future in the system.
