Titans: Anna Diop faces racist backlash from comic book fans
- Published
image copyrightGetty ImagesAn actress who's due to star in new TV show Titans has disabled her Instagram comments after facing racist backlash from comic book fans.
Anna Diop will play an orange alien princess named Koriand'r/Starfire in the upcoming series from DC Universe.
But some people say Anna shouldn't be playing Starfire because she's black.
Backlash started after a set photo leaked in April, and was reignited when the latest trailer for the show was recently released.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Anna addressed the hate she received online at the time and described the picture as a "misrepresentation of the incredible character I get to play".
"Racist, derogatory, and/or cruel comments have nothing to do with the person on the receiving end of that abuse. And because I know this - I'm unfazed."
image copyrightGetty ImagesPaul Feig, who directed the latest Ghostbusters, defended the Senegalese actress on Twitter.
His all-female reboot of the original 1984 Ghostbusters film made headlines in 2016 for having the most disliked trailer in YouTube history.
Much of the criticism of the film was regarded as sexist, while one of the stars, Leslie Jones, faced "sick" racist abuse online.
"Comic book fan community: You have to loudly denounce these racist trolls who make these attacks," Paul wrote.
"The fan community cannot allow itself to get painted with this brush when it's such a small number of hateful people doing this."
Comic book fan community: You have to loudly denounce these racist trolls who make these attacks. They do not represent the fan community and the fan community cannot allow itself to get painted with this brush when it’s such a small number of hateful people doing this. Stand up. https://t.co/ZlRmgpZq8O
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 25, 2018
Anna now has just six posts left on her Instagram and has disabled comments on five of them.
The only post where comments are allowed is on a promotional movie image for Jordan Peele's Us, which she'll also star in.
People have tweeted their criticism of those who consider Anna too dark-skinned to play Starfire, describing it as "anti-black".
Shame on these racists who call themselves fans. Real Titans fans know it has always been the story of heroes from diverse backgrounds who trust, respect, & love each other. Tamaraneans like Starfire are strong, beautiful, & brave. Anna Diop fits the role perfectly. https://t.co/HcIa2PlNG8
— David Slack (@slack2thefuture) July 25, 2018
No one finds it telling that the same people who are saying Anna Diop shouldn't play #Starfire because she's "too dark" had no issues with Rebecca Romijn and Jennifer Lawrence playing #Mystique even though the character is dark blue and they are light???????????
— Azealia Banks Apologist (@celleblossom) July 25, 2018
fans getting upset about Anna Diop being casted and attacking her with racist comments just like how fans got upset and attacking Zendaya [still are!] for being casted as MJ. fandom(s) reeks of closeted racists with their anti-blackness. it’s disgusting!
— lia (@RXMANSPHOENIX) July 20, 2018
Others have shared their excitement about the casting.
#IStandbyAnnaDiop and can't wait to see what you guys have written for our Princess also very very excited to see what @TheAnnaDiop does with the material you have given her! @TitansWriters @DCUTitans pic.twitter.com/PoL7sTONlV
— Anna Diop Daily (@dailyannadiop) July 23, 2018
I'm here for Anna Diop as Starfire and excited to see other projects. Let the haters stay mad https://t.co/FsPEWIBEcU
— Sean Mickens (@Sean_Mickens) July 25, 2018
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