Ex-Neighbours star Meyne Wyatt backs Shareena Clanton’s claims of racism on set

Former Neighbours actor Meyne Wyatt has backed shock claims of racism on the set of the popular Australian TV soap.

Wyatt who was a series regular on Neighbours from 2014 to 2016 later made an emotional plea on Instagram to stamp out similar behaviour after he too “experienced racism on set”.

While Wyatt was the first Indigenous actor to become a regular cast member, he said the industry as a whole has a ways to go before equality is achieved.

“It is disappointing but not at all surprising to hear that five years later racism continues to be present in that workplace,” he wrote on Instagram.

“But what can you say, we are in Australia.”

“I don’t see a lot of Indigenous actors on the show or on any prime time Television series, whether it be Neighbours, Home and Away, anything on Channel 7, 9 or Ten for that matter.”

“But these attitudes are prevalent throughout the industry. And we are f**** tired of calling this s*** out. Individuals, actors, cast and crews!

“To the Production companies, to the networks! Do better, be better. You can always do better. The work is not finished. Even when you think you have, just know you haven’t. Because you haven’t.”

Wyatt also said homophobia was “f****** rampant”

“Racism needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out! Homophobia needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out! Neighbours do better! The Australian Film and Television Industry do better! Australia do better,” he wrote.

Wyatt’s comments followed actor Shareena Clanton’s claims of racism on the set of Neighbours.

"It's been lonely, triggering and traumatising to work in such a culturally unsafe space," she wrote on Instagram, adding she would never work for the Network Ten show again.

Within the social media post, the 30-year-old Perth-born actor listed multiple allegations of racist and inappropriate behaviour by senior Neighbours staff and fellow cast members.

Ms Clanton says she fired her agent when he described a senior staff member's alleged use of the term "slave driver" - in reference to him working hard - as "office banter".

She also claims the set was "rife" with covert levels of racism, citing a white actress openly calling another actress of colour a "lil' monkey" as an alleged example.

Ms Clanton says she heard a highly racial slur uttered twice on set and in the green room, and was told to "go somewhere else" when she confronted the actor directly.