The interpreter of Mother Aniseya in the production was the target of racist comments and denounced the lack of support from the entertainment company
The actress Jodie Turner-Smith, who brought the character to life Mother Aniseya in the only season of “The Acolyte”, expressed his dissatisfaction with the stance of the Disney in the face of racist attacks directed at the cast. These attacks, mainly broadcast on social media, did not receive a public response from the company, something that Turner-Smith considers it “unfair”.
The series “The Acolyte” was released in the Disney+ catalog in June 2024 and is set about a century before the events of the trilogy prequel to “Star Wars”, the famous fantasy series created by George Lucas. The production features a diverse cast, including many non-white actors, who have become targets of racist comments.
Among the cast members, Amandla Stenberginterpreter of the character Osha, even released a song in response to the attacks. She also stated that the series’ early closure after the first season was not surprising given the “vitriol” directed at the actors.
In interview with Glamor magazine,Turner-Smith highlighted the silence of Disney as problematic. According to her, it is necessary for companies as such to speak out against racist behavior online. “They need to stop this inaction when people are targeted with racism on the internet. It’s really unfair,” he said.
Corporate support
The actress also mentioned the importance of corporate support in the fight against racism:
It would be great if big corporations showed their support and said this is unacceptable. If you act like that, you’re not a fan,” according to Rolling Stone Brasil.
Turner-Smith highlighted the economic impact of black and other minority communities on the entertainment industry: “People of color, especially black people, represent a large share of purchasing power. Companies may feel it is more profitable for them to remain silent, but the use of the term ‘woke’ as something pejorative is mistaken.”
Despite the criticism, Turner-Smith holds out hope that perceptions will change over time. She believes that the day will come when the presence of people of color in intellectual properties created by white people will be widely accepted: “We will never stop participating,” concluded the actress.
Source: Maxima
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