Rick Riordan launched a blog post right this moment addressing a vocal minority that has responded in anger to his casting decisions for Disney Plus’ upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV sequence.
Riordan, in what now appears to be like like anticipation of the announcement, addressed aesthetic variations within the casting of Walker Scobell because the titular demigod and touched on controversies in Chris Columbus’ extensively panned movies final month. Remembering how Annabeth’s brunette hair was sufficient to upset some, Riordan wrote last month that what he cared extra about was their age, persona, humor, and chemistry.
But following last week’s announcement that actress Leah Sava Jeffries was solid because the sequence’ deuteragonist and love curiosity Annabeth Chase, the bestselling center grade writer and former center faculty trainer has printed a agency dismissal of criticisms in opposition to Jeffries titled “Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase.”
“If you have a problem with this casting,” Riordan wrote within the publish, “take it up with me. You have no one else to blame.” He went on to say that the bullying and harassment of the kid on-line is “inexcusably wrong.”
The publish comes hours after Jeffries misplaced her TikTookay account following ongoing harassment because the casting announcement, one thing that Riordan’s spouse and collaborator Becky Riordan shared on Twitter was being addressed.
In the weblog publish, Riordan re-emphasized his dedication to his casting decisions, calling Jeffries “a role model for new generations of girls” and reminding followers that his intentions have been clear from the beginning.
Riordan hit again at a lot of the web vitriol by including, “You either are not aware, or have dismissed, Leah’s years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit.”
Furthermore, he took a extra direct tone in responding to a few of the particular feedback made in direction of the actress, calling such value determinations racist.
“You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Friends, that is racism.”
Riordan concluded the publish by sharing that the difference, based mostly on the books he started writing for his kids, is one thing he can be pleased with. Following publication of his publish, #LeahisOurAnnabeth started trending on Twitter as followers rallied to point out their help.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians begins filming this summer time.
‘Percy Jackson’ writer responds to backlash in opposition to Black Annabeth casting
Source: Panapanahon News
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