Ngozi Fulani steps down temporarily over abuse after Palace Race Row
Charity boss Ngozi Fulani has resigned over the abuse she suffered after her falling out with Lady Susan Hussey.
Ms. Fulani announced that she is temporarily stepping down from her role as CEO of Sistah Space, a charity she founded to help Afro-Caribbean women facing domestic violence.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB): “We, the charity Sistah Space, have suffered, direct consequences.
“If you think this should be because of violence against women and girls, the violence was directed at me because of this incident, the palace did not intervene, I think they could have.
“So what I had to do, I’ve now temporarily stepped down as CEO of Sistah Space.
“I am announcing this now because the service users and community cannot access us properly.
“This whole thing cost us a fortune because we had to pay our own PR to keep the press from showing up, it was awful.”
The racing series has been making headlines since last November when Lady Susan, a close friend of the late Queen and godmother to Prince William, repeatedly asked Ms Fulani where she was “really” from.
Ms Fulani said she felt “hurt” after Lady Susan refused to accept her reply that she was British.
Lady Susan later personally apologized to Ms Fulani for the distress her comments had caused and resigned from her honorary role, but was reportedly spotted performing royal duties again last month.
Ms Fulani said she and her family had received “horrific online abuse” from those who felt Lady Susan was being treated unfairly after she went public about what happened.
She said: “Incidents like this not only cause emotional damage to those involved, but also have wider implications for the community.
“I’ve seen firsthand what happens when a Black woman faces adversity and has to overcome additional barriers when trying to report it.”
The conversation as recalled by Ngozi Fulani
Lady SH: ‘Where do you come from?’
Ms. Fulani: ‘Sistah room.’
SCH: “No, where are you from?
Ms. Fulani: “We’re based in Hackney.”
SCH: “No, what part of Africa are YOU from?”
Ms. Fulani: “I don’t know, they didn’t leave any records.”
SCH: “Well you must know where you are from, I’ve spent some time in France. Where do you come from?’
Ms. Fulani: “Here, Britain”
SCH: “No, but what nationality are you?”
Ms. Fulani: “I was born here and I’m British.”
SCH: ‘No, but where are you really from, where are your people from?’
Ms. Fulani: ‘“My people, my lady, what is this?”
SCH: “Oh, I see I’m going to have a challenge to get you to say where you’re from. When did you first come here?’
Ms. Fulani: ‘Lady! I’m a British citizen, my parents came here in the 50’s when…”
SCH: ‘Oh I knew we’d get there in the end, you’re Caribbean!’
Ms. Fulani: “No lady, I am of African descent, Caribbean descent and British nationality.”
SCH: ‘Oh, so you’re from…’
Buckingham Palace organized a meeting between the two in December and then reported it was “filled with warmth and understanding”.
The statement said Ms Fulani “unfairly received the most appalling spate of abuse on social media and elsewhere” and accepted Lady Susan’s apology.
GMB presenter Richard Madeley claimed the Palace said on Tuesday night: “For the avoidance of doubt, we sincerely apologize for the incident and apologize for the distress and difficulties it has caused Ms Fulani.”
But Ms. Fulani said to him, “Who are you apologizing to? If you’re sorry, tell me you’re sorry, if not… It speaks for itself.
“If you have to ask someone for an apology, it’s not an apology.”
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
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https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/08/ngozi-fulani-temporarily-steps-down-over-abuse-after-palace-race-row-18405380/ Ngozi Fulani steps down temporarily over abuse after Palace Race Row