Black stars deserve roles in beloved franchises without fearing fandom racism-Stella Akinwumi-Entertainment – Metro

The online commentary over Black stars featuring in reboots has been baffling and borderline upsetting (Picture: Backgrid / Netflix / Disney)

It’s safe to say certain film and TV franchises wouldn’t have reached astronomical heights if it wasn’t for their devoted fans showing support every step of the way.

Over the years I’ve met a wide range of uhhh, interesting die-hards, who can recite every pinnacle moment across the Harry Potter books to some splashing the cash on every Star Wars collectable known to man.

Before anyone starts, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. Everyone is entitled to follow their bliss!

But since we’ve stepped into the era of reboots and revivals, with House of the Dragon, Lord Of The Rings: Rings of Power, and Obi-Wan Kenobi gracing our screens this year, the blatant racism that has followed these shows’ cast announcements couldn’t be more apparent.

Over the years we’ve seen the same nauseating reaction play out when a person of colour has been introduced to a new spin-off, with several hailing the inclusion as ‘too diverse’ – whatever that means.

But you know we’ve reached mind-boggling territory as a society when there’s backlash over a Black actress playing a mythical creature under the sea…. whose best friend IS A CRAB!

Halle Bailey’s trailer debut as Ariel actually received over 2.4million dislikes (Picture: Getty Images)

22-year-old Halle Bailey, best known as one half of Chloe x Halle, is starring in the 2023 Little Mermaid adaptation, and many fans (myself included) were in awe over her rendition of Part Of Your World, which was teased in the trailer.

However, Disney’s daring choice of having Bailey (a performer who even has Beyonce singing her praises) starring as the titular lead was slammed by the masses, which sparked the #NotmyAriel movement.

‘Why does Ariel’s skin need melanin when she lives underwater where there is practically no light past 200 meters,’ one person remarked.

‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it physically impossible for Ariel to be black?’ another added.

(Insert eye roll emoji).

While I wish Halle sprinkled a little bit of shade towards the critics, I was here for her eloquent clap-back, and I felt like she was speaking on behalf of Black women everywhere when she expressed how seeing a Black Ariel would have ‘changed her whole outlook on life.’

‘The fact that I’m kind of getting to do that is really cool and unbelievable to me and the little girl inside of me is screaming and freaking out,’ she began.

‘I mean, I know what it would’ve meant to me as a little girl to have been able to see a Black Ariel.’

Don’t come for me, but I haven’t fully seen the 1989 original starring Jodi Benson – but like most Disney films, I understand the animated classic is near and dear to many, but the backlash over a Black actress taking the reins was undoubtedly vile and upsetting.

I was only a year old when Brandy Norwood’s Cinderella adaptation was released, but when I finally was old enough to see it, I vividly watched the Moesha actress twirling in the famous turquoise gown in awe.

Because, as cheesy as it sounds, it was the first time I could live vicariously through a character that looked like me.

I can’t express how much seeing Brandy Norwood playing Cinderella in the 1997 remake meant to me growing up (Picture: Disney)

Considering the fact that Black girls/women are rarely depicted in a royal light when it comes to Disney films, it baffles me that anyone would actively initiate movements like #NotmyAriel.

And unfortunately, Bailey isn’t the only star who has faced an angry mob for starring as a prominent Black lead.

Let’s take it back to 2015, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens had everyone talking. Now the cherished sci-fi saga has never been my cup of tea, but when I saw Attack The Block actor John Boyega cast as Black stormtrooper Finn alongside Daisy Ridley, I remember feeling a sense of pride and excitement over the cinematic progression.

John played Finn in the latest Star Wars trilogy (Picture: REX)

House of the Dragon actor Steve Toussaint called out the racist abuse he’s suffered online on several occasions (Picture: HBO)

Although Boyega was more than aware of the racial backlash (yes people actually threatened to boycott the film) he explained that his experience was ‘unique’ due to the abuse aimed at him.

‘I got given this opportunity but I’m in an industry that wasn’t even ready for me,’ he told GQ in 2020.

‘Nobody else in the cast had people saying they were going to boycott the movie because [they were in it].

‘Nobody else had the uproar and death threats sent to their Instagram DMs and social media, saying, “Black this and Black that and you shouldn’t be a stormtrooper.” But yet people are surprised that I’m this way. That’s my frustration.’

When I read the pain reflected in Boyega’s words, it emphasised the harm several talented Black stars face when their character is introduced. Even if Black actors/actresses completely flipped their designated role on its head for the better, it seems like it wouldn’t even matter when social media whiners can only focus on the fact that their casting doesn’t fit the so-called norm.

Actor Caleb McLaughlin was the latest actor to recall racial backlash he faced – this time at the hands of the Stranger Things fandom.

Caleb McLaughlin detailed his earliest experience with racism during season one of Stranger Things (Picture: Getty Images)

The Lucas Sinclair actor – who has starred in the Netflix hit since 2016 – recently addressed how fewer fans would line up for his meet and greets.

Addressing certain devoted viewers who struggled to separate reality from fiction, he said: ‘Some people told me that, “oh I didn’t want to be in your line because you were mean to Eleven [Millie Bobby Brown].”

‘You’re like – this is a deep conversation right now – but you’re like, “why am I the least favourite? Why don’t I have followers?”

‘I’m on the same show as everybody from season one. But then my parents had to be like, “you know, it’s a sad truth, but it’s because you’re the Black child in the show.”‘

And just like that… my heart broke.

Now I’m not an actress, but one would imagine that starring in a groundbreaking global hit like Stranger Things would’ve been an incredible experience for a teen, but knowing that his earliest memories were somewhat tainted due to fandom racism was beyond disheartening to hear.

McLaughlin’s experience is also eerily similar to Amandla Stenberg who was only 12 years old when fans of Suzanne Collins’ author creation booed her presence as Rue in The Hunger Games trilogy.

Amandla Stenberg was also met with backlash during her appearance in The Hunger Games (Picture: Invision)

Ingram’s (Middle) co-stars stood by her side during the Obi-Wan controversy (Picture: WireImage)

And let’s talk about another recent case, Moses Ingram, who played Reva Sevander in the Disney Plus miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.

In disappointing but not surprising fashion, the 28-year-old actress was subjected to vile trolling online when the programme launched in May this year, with people declaring that a woman of colour had no business starring in a multimedia franchise, with many threatening that her days on the series ‘were numbered.’

Frontman Ewan McGregor and the Star Wars squad publicly condemned the hate, with executive producer McGregor simply saying: ‘If you’re sending her [Ingram] bullying messages, you’re no Star Wars fan in my mind.’

There was something so beautiful yet frustrating about watching McGregor stand by his co-star the way he did.

The OG Lord Of The Rings cast donned T-shirts featuring ears of various Middle-earth creatures in different skin tones (Picture: Elijah Wood/Twitter)

Beautiful of him to praise Ingram as a person and an actress, but frustrating that in 2022 seeing Black characters doing nothing but exist is enough to set blood boiling.

Similar to Star Wars, the LOTR (Lord Of The Rings) franchise has never been of interest to me, but seeing Frodo Baggins’ very own Elijah Wood rocking a graphic tee featuring Middle Earth ears in various skin tones is the type of unity that tugs at the heartstrings as it serves a gentle reminder that people of colour deserve to lend their talents in award-winning franchises.

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It would be completely naïve of me to assume people will change their narrow-minded views, or stripping online anonymity will end racist abuse in any capacity, but having seen notable Hollywood icons like McGregor and Wood voicing their support feels like a promising step in the right direction.

I remember snapping my fingers in appreciation when I saw Whoopi Goldberg calling all racists who ‘have problems because there are Black hobbits’ to ‘get a job!’

As savage as the quip was, defiant statements like this continue to put certain naysayers in their place.

I just hope is that we can reach a point where Black stars can lead/feature in a franchise near and dear to all ages without it generating such a massive hoo-ha!

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MORE : Black children reacting to Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid trailer shows why representation matters

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