Racism was at the heart of my heavily pregnant daughter’s death, mother alleges

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

admin

It’s been three years since dancer and influencer Nicole Thea died whilst eight months pregnant with her child, who was called Reign.

But for Nicole’s family, those three long years mean “nothing”.

“I still feel like I how I did the day that she passed away – the first thing I think of in the morning is Nicole and Reign. When I go to sleep, it’s Nicole and Reign,” says her mother Samantha Antoine.

It’s not lost on Samantha that as she should be celebrating her first grandchild’s third birthday, she is instead marking the anniversary of his death, along with his mother – who was her only child.

“Reign will never be able to ride a bike, I will never be able to pick him up from school, take him swimming.

“And one of the saddest things is Nicole will never get to see Reign and that bothers me. She was so excited to see him.”

Nicole died in July 2020 of an underlying heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – a condition Nicole’s paternal grandmother died from in 1986.

She had previously complained to midwives about shortness of breath and even spoke in YouTube videos to hundreds of thousands of her followers that she felt like her baby was “eating her from the inside out”.

Dr Aneil Malhotra, a consultant cardiologist, has since tested some family members for the often-hereditary condition.

He says it is always important to address symptoms – and a “baseline EGC, electrical trace of the heart, detects HCM in around 90% of cases”.

He says HCM is prevalent in all ethnic groups, but can be more difficult to identify in black and ethnic minority patients, which he believes is linked to lack of research.

Mother believes Nicole’s death could have been avoided

Samantha claims that – if Nicole’s concerns had been listened to – her daughter’s death could have been avoided, believing her daughter was failed on many levels, and racism was at the heart of it.

“I also believe that because Nicole is a woman of colour, that she was failed on that front because she just wasn’t taken seriously.

“I think if she wasn’t a woman of colour, she would have been referred to as a consultant,” Samantha said.

According to the most recent data from a report by Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries (MBRRACE-UK), black and ethnic minority women can be around five to six times more likely to die in childbirth.

Sadly, it’s not just mothers from ethnically diverse backgrounds more likely to experience higher morbidity rates.

In 2021, babies from the black ethnic group continued to have the highest rates of death, according to the ONS.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

‘Every maternal death is a tragedy’ – MP

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are absolutely clear we must ensure maternity care is of the same high standard for everyone.

“We set up the Maternity Disparities Taskforce which brings together experts from across the health system, government departments and the voluntary sector to explore and consider evidence-based interventions to tackle maternal disparities.”

But Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP and chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, says the government has fallen short of setting a target.

She said “every maternal death is a tragedy” adding that her “heart goes out to Samantha”.

“I think it’s absolutely crucial that all women, particularly black and other minoritised communities are listened to when they’re pregnant. They know their own bodies best.”

She said she is disappointed there hasn’t been a “specific strategy or target around black maternal deaths” – adding that cases like Nicole’s “highlight how crucial it is that we make sure women are listened to that their health concerns are acted upon.”

Samantha says the statistics highlighting the disparities other women of colour face is proof there are wider societal issues at play, and the family want accountability, but until that happens they have taken it among themselves to do something about it.

Foundation will keep Nicole’s name alive

Global Boga, Nicole’s partner and father to Reign, said: “It’s been three years, but I haven’t lived.”

“I only started to feel myself again when I set up the foundation to honour her and my son.

“I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.”

“Nicole literally made my life. All she ever wanted was to be a mother, and I could see that, so I wanted to be the father of her kids.”

Alongside Samantha and other family members, he is setting up the Nicole Thea Reign foundation to help support mothers.

He hopes the foundation, which will be set up to mark Nicole’s birthday on 29 July, will go a long way to keep their name alive, as well as helping others.

“We have lost a great queen, but she is not gone forever. She is in us, she is in our soul,” he said.

UK

Duchess of York dropped as patron of two charities over Epstein email

Published

6 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

Duchess of York dropped as patron of two charities over Epstein email

Sarah, Duchess of York, has been dropped as a patron of two charities after it emerged she sent an email apologising to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein for publicly disowning him.

The groups, children’s hospice Julia’s House and food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, issued statements on Monday.

Julia’s House said: “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.

“We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”

Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: “We were disturbed to read of Sarah, Duchess of York’s, correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Sarah Ferguson has not been actively involved with the charity for some years. She was a patron but, in the light of the recent revelations, we have taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to be associated with the charity. We would like to thank her for her kindness and support in the past.”

Julia’s House provides support for “families caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition”, according to its website.

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation aims to prevent and end allergic disease, according to the Charity Commission, by bringing “about positive change by focusing on law and policies, medical research and educating and raising allergy awareness”.

It comes after it emerged the duchess had written a gushing message to Epstein, describing him as her “supreme friend”.

According to The Sun on Sunday, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew had emailed him in April 2011 and “humbly apologised” for linking him to paedophilia in the media a few weeks previously.

She said in the message that he was a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” to her.

Her spokesperson has since said she only wrote the note because Epstein had threatened to sue her.

The duchess’s interview with the Evening Standard on 7 March 2011 saw her apologise for accepting £15,000 from Epstein.

She told the newspaper: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite, I cannot say.

“Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

But The Sun on Sunday reported that little over a month later, the duchess sent an email to the sex offender from her private account.

She apologised to him and said she was “bedridden with fear”, the paper reported.

‘Her first thoughts are with his victims’

In a statement at the weekend, the duchess’s spokesman said: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.

“Like many people, she was taken in by his lies.

“As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.

“She does not resile from anything she said then.

“This email was sent in the context of advice the duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”

UK

Police appeal to trace further 18 people linked to disorder at Unite the Kingdom march

Published

12 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

Police appeal to trace further 18 people linked to disorder at Unite the Kingdom march

Police have appealed for help to identify an additional 18 people suspected of public order offences and assaults on emergency workers on the day of the Unite the Kingdom march.

Between 110,000 and 150,000 people attended the rally in central London on 13 September, the Metropolitan Police estimates.

Protesters heard a number of speeches, including from far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who organised the rally and called it the “biggest freedom of speech” event in British history.

An anti-racism counter-protest, attended by about 5,000 campaigners, also took place, with the two groups clashing on Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, separated by lines of police.

Police previously said 24 people were arrested at the protests, 23 of whom are believed to have been involved in the Unite the Kingdom rally, while one was believed to be involved in the counter-protest.

The force launched an appeal to identify 11 people last week, one of whom was identified.

Officers now want to speak to a further 18 people “in connection with a range of public order offences and assaults on emergency workers” and have released 16 new images.

The Met previously said 26 officers were assaulted with kicks and punches, adding: “Bottles, flares and other projectiles were also thrown and concerted attempts were made to get past barriers.”

“Our post-event investigation continues and officers have looked through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to review evidence to help with further inquiries,” said Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Norris.

“We have 28 people we want to speak to in connection with a range of offences – and we are again appealing for the public’s help to track them down.”

People may have travelled from outside London, so she said she was asking people “across the country” to look at a number of pictures that have been released and to get in touch if they recognise anyone.

UK

UK to push peace plan at UN summit after recognising Palestinian state – but Netanyahu says Palestine ‘will not happen’

Published

18 hours ago

September 22, 2025

admin

UK to push peace plan at UN summit after recognising Palestinian state - but Netanyahu says Palestine 'will not happen'

The UK is set to push for a peace plan for the Middle East at the UN General Assembly after recognising the state of Palestine.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to use the summit to address civilian suffering in war-torn Gaza and aim to strengthen “the international consensus on our pathway for peace in the Middle East”.

She will hold bilateral meetings to advance elements of the peace plan, including security measures to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza, according to the Foreign Office.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who won’t attend the summit, announced on Sunday that the UK recognises Palestine as an independent state, to “revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution”.

It is a significant moment in the history of Britain’s involvement in the region, and comes as the number of people killed during the Gaza conflict continues to rise and conditions for the people trapped become even more desperate.

Australia, Canada and Portugal made similar announcements, with France expected to follow suit at the UN on Monday.

The move was met with fierce backlash by Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it was “absurd” and a “huge reward to terrorism”. He also vowed that a Palestinian state “will not happen”.

Separately, an Israeli official said the “full or partial annexation of the West Bank” is now “an option under consideration in response” to the move.

US President Donald Trump also addressed the coordinated recognition of the state of Palestine by the UK, Australia, Canada and Portugal, saying “I’m not in that camp” because recognising a Palestinian state was “rewarding Hamas”.

The families of hostages held in Gaza called it a “betrayal of humanity and a move that rewards Hamas while 48 hostages remain in captivity”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the recognition of the state of Palestine would allow it to “live side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighbourliness”.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi reportedly celebrated the move as a victory for “the justice of our cause”.

But Sir Keir was clear to emphasise that recognition of Palestine was “not a reward for Hamas”, saying the terror group “can have no future, no role in government, no role in security” in a future state and confirming plans to ratchet up sanctions on Hamas “in the coming weeks”.

“Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision,” he added.

The prime minister also repeated his criticism of Israel, which for nearly two years has waged war on the densely populated Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable,” he said.

The number of people killed in Gaza since the IDF launched its offensive following the 7 October attacks has now risen above 65,000, according to Hamas-run health authorities.

“This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end,” Sir Keir said.

In recognising Palestine as a state, the UK does so based on 1967 borders to be finalised as part of future negotiations. It would be led by a “reformed Palestinian Authority”.

The UK also acknowledges “all legal rights and obligations of statehood” for Palestine.

An updated map on the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website now has the West Bank and Gaza labelled as ‘Palestine’ rather than the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’. This change has been rolled out across the website.