Mr Motivator has recalled the racism he encountered while trying to break into the TV industry, revealing that it took him a decade to make it on-screen.
The fitness instructor, real name Derrick Errol Evans, rose to fame in 1993 through appearances on breakfast television show GMTV, where he performed live fitness sessions and offered tips and advice to viewers.
However, Mr Motivator faced a number of setbacks on his journey to make it in the world of entertainment because of the colour of skin.
‘When television came along, it took me 10 years to get a break as an on-screen fitness trainer,’ Mr Motivator began.
‘Every time I went to the studios, the guys would say, “Look, for a white lady with two kids, a black guy on TV would never work.” But I kept on persevering.’
Speaking about his experiences outside of television, he continued to Radio Times: ‘When I came to Leicester aged 10 from Jamaica, everyone would look at me as I walked by. So I would turn around, smile and wave.
‘Later, when I walked into my very first job interview and the guy said to me, “Why didn’t you tell me you were black?”, I replied, “Why didn’t you tell me you were white?”‘
Mr Motivator enjoyed a seven-year career on GMTV, and eventually left the show in 2000 to go back to Jamaica because his daughter had breathing problems.
Since then, he’s made numerous television appearances and has also performed at the likes of Reading Festival and Truck Festival.
Back in March, Mr Motivator proved to be the pick me up we all needed with his disco workout on HealthCheck UK giving viewers the giggles amid coronavirus lockdown.
Source: Read Full Article