‘EastEnders’ actress Tameka Empson was among the winners at the Inside Soap Awards, but missed out on the ceremony, as she was taking a stand against the venue it was held at.
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This year, the Inside Soap Awards held their annual bash at DSTRKT, a London night-club which is currently embroiled in a racism row, after text messages alleged to be sent from one of the club’s promoters surfaced online.
The message reads that the “black crowd” was a “concern”, while four clubbers have said they were turned away by door staff two weeks ago, for being too dark-skinned and “too fat”.
Tameka Empson
Taking a stand against DSTRKT, Tameka decided to stay away from the event, despite winning an award for her portrayal of Kim Fox in the soap.
A source tells The Mirror that several ‘EastEnders’ actors were unsure whether to attend, claiming: “Lots felt uncomfortable but felt a duty to say thank you to their fans, who voted for the winners. It was a really tough decision.
“Tameka resolutely refused to go. Everyone fully accepts her decision.”
Tameka alluded to the DSTRKT controversy on her Twitter page over the weekend, writing: “Looking forward to #InsideSoapAwards on Monday… However… not sure if I will get into the venue…”
A statement from the night spot reads: “DSTRKT has never operated sexual or racial, discriminatory door policy. Its management and staff abhor racial and sexual discrimination.”
Tameka has played Kim in ‘EastEnders’ since the character’s arrival in Albert Square six years ago. She played a pivotal role in the soap’s 30th anniversary celebrations earlier this year, when Kim gave birth to a baby girl, Pearl.