Kimberly Wyatt opens up about how racism impacted her relationship with her parents Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Celebrity Kimberly Wyatt opens up about how racism impacted her relationship with her parents By You Magazine - July 3, 2020 Former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt has spoken out about her difficult relationship with her parents for the first time, during a powerful interview discussing racism through the lens of parenting. Opening up during the latest episode of She Speaks, a new web series hosted by MP Dawn Butler and POWTV creator and director Rosemary Reed, the mother-of-three explains she doesn’t speak to her immediate family because of their racist beliefs and the abuse she suffered in their home as a result. Kimberly while pregnant with her third child in 2019. Image: Rex Features During the discussion, Kimberly references the moment she heard about the murder of George Floyd, revealing ‘it brought a lot of emotions up in me, and it came from growing up in a very racist household, and coming up against that time and time again and staying strong within my values. I don’t have a relationship with my parents because we are so fundamentally different.’ Acknowledging that it’s been hard to reconcile in the context of her own white privilege, she adds: ”It was always there from a very young age and I could silently have conversations in my own head, but finally finding the strength to actually speak up and speak out, I was 14. It was mostly against my father and he was just horrified. Kimberly on the red carpet. Image: Rex Features ‘I think he felt like I was a traitor of what he felt should be normality, but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t care what was going to happen to me. My truth needed to be spoken, I felt so passionately about it – my thing was, there’s bad people of all different races, it isn’t just black people. And I would say that to him, with such tenacity and as it would become aggression, I would just put my chin out there and be ready. POWTV ‘It’s a mental health issue, and I could see that within them. I think the pressures of society, maybe not having the money or not having the company be as successful as he wanted to be, he needed to point a finger at someone or something.’ The episode also features guests including psychiatrist Dr Vera Ora (mother of singer Rita Ora), founder of The Black Curriculum Lavinya Stennett, domestic violence campaigner Jenni Steele and founder of The Motherhood Group Sandra Igwe, all of whom share their own experiences and insights into what can and should be done to break down racial discrimination. Vera Ora with her daughter Rita. Image: Rex Features From the narrow, Eurocentric history that’s taught in our education system to the lack of safe spaces available for black mothers in our communities, every second of the 43 minute episode raises issues that need addressing urgently, and the way these inspiring women are all working to make these changes. To watch the full episode and hear each of their stories in full, hit play on the video below now. RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR 50 of the best celebrity Halloween costumes of all time Shirley Ballas ‘ Strictly gave me back my hope’ Davina McCall discusses how men can help women going through the menopause Popular in Celebrity Beauty vlogger Nic Chapman opens up about her diagnosis and troubled August 22, 2017 Quickfire with Strictly veteran Anton Du Beke December 5, 2017 Yolanda Kettle reveals what it’ s like playing the other woman February 12, 2018 The billion-dollar baby club The celebrity children living it large April 15, 2018 Tom and Giovanna Fletcher talk married life and working with your June 3, 2018 Jacqueline Gold ‘ I want to give women confidence’ July 15, 2018 Quickfire Comedian Alex Horne on Gary The Gorilla losing his trousers August 26, 2018 ‘ I’ m probably overindulgent with him’ Elizabeth Hurley reveals the most important September 30, 2018 One s best friends The Queen’ s corgis and their doggy dynasty October 28, 2018 Ruth Wilson will play her own grandmother in this new BBC November 21, 2018 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved