Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, allegedly expressed a wish to be black on the historic night when Barack Obama was elected as the President of the United States. Journalist Afua Hirsch, of British-Ghanaian heritage, made the claim about Mr. Johnson during an event on the night of Obama’s victory in 2008.
In an interview with Marina Wheeler, Boris Johnson’s ex-wife, Hirsch recounted the incident. Wheeler, who was married to Johnson at the time, couldn’t recall the specific interaction but reacted with a groan when told about it.
Afua Hirsch, known for her bestselling books, was born in Norway to a British father and Ghanaian mother. She has been vocal about issues of race and identity. According to Hirsch, Boris Johnson demanded to know where she was from and then commented that he “wished he was black”.
Marina Wheeler, who divorced Boris Johnson in 2020 after separating in 2018, expressed a sense of liberation post-divorce, saying, “I suppose I do feel that, as you become more senior as a woman, and, I guess, post-divorce, if I’m honest, it does free you up. You can look at the world again and do things that can make a difference.”
Afua Hirsch’s claims add to previous allegations of racism against Boris Johnson. She has accused him of making a “litany of racist statements” in the past, stating that his “oafish stupidity” was part of his “electoral brand”.
Boris Johnson’s controversial statements have often made headlines. He has admitted to writing “terrible things” about climate change during his time as a journalist and confessed to being a “massive sceptic”. However, as mayor of London and later as Prime Minister, he changed his stance, stating that he decided to support climate change initiatives.
Marina Wheeler, now a barrister, was appointed Labour’s new “whistleblowing tsar” in October. In her new role, she will oversee plans to improve protections and employment rights for women against workplace harassment, abuse, and sexual assault.
The incident reported by Afua Hirsch sheds light on a controversial aspect of Boris Johnson’s personality and adds to the ongoing debate surrounding his past statements and behavior.
