More than 800 predominantly Black female and non-binary actors have signed an open letter in solidarity with Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who has been targeted with online racial abuse after the announcement of her casting in a new production of Romeo & Juliet.

It reads: “Too many times, Black performers – particularly Black actresses – are left to face the storm of online abuse after committing the crime of getting a job on their own.”

It comes after a statement by the Jamie Lloyd theatre company condemning the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse” that has been directed at Amewudah-Rivers and saying further harassment would be reported.

The abuse, the company – run by the director Jamie Lloyd – said, followed the announcement of the show’s cast including Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet and Tom Holland as Romeo.

Wednesday’s letter, which was organised by Enola Holmes actor Susan Wokoma and the writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton, stated: “When news of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ casting in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Romeo and Juliet was announced so many people celebrated and welcomed this news. Many of us took to social media to shower our baby sis with love and congratulations – a huge deal for someone so young in their career. A huge rising talent.

“But then what followed was a too familiar horror that many of us visible Black dark skinned performers have experienced. The racist and misogynistic abuse directed at such a sweet soul has been too much to bear. For a casting announcement of a play to ignite such twisted ugly abuse is truly embarrassing for those so empty and barren in their own lives that they must meddle in hateful abuse.”

The signatories welcomed the theatre company’s statement and said they hoped it would “extend to committed emotional support for Francesca on her journey with the production”.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/10/too-much-to-bear-black-actors-condemn-racial-abuse-of-romeo-juliet-star

Black man with him pikin done suffer.

Ok

Thinking you are better than someone because of your skin color is nothing short of mental illness.

I actually did not like how the whites ganged up on d young girl.

But to be fair, let's be honest, Juliet should not be black just as much as black panther cannot be white.

its much better to look for or create an original story that requires a young black actress.


It's a shame really, I perfectly understand how she's feeling sha

These racists think everything should be under their control.

They love setting Black people up for insult ehn.

No white production company would allow a movie of Idris Elba to pair with some hideous white girl whatever the story line may be.

It’s time Black people build and take complete ownership of their own EVERYTHING and stop ranting or complaining to get treated better in white spaces.

na crime to be black?

Tribal bigots on Nairaland will comment here too

The whites have every right to protest such vain revisionism.

Na Which day wey Shakespeare Juliet turn black.

I don't know what you guys were expecting.... It's like picking a white lady to act as a slave from West africa... Na wetin meet una bdat oh..... Make government reduce fuel price, make everywhere soft abeg

We're the ones doing ourselves
Shakespeare's character was obviously a white British lady.

Must we try to abuse "inclusivity"?

Next, they will use a black woman for Snow White. At least apply common sense.

Imagine using Jackie Chan for Black Panther

Racism is a generational mental illness...!

Same as tribalism (Nigerians should take note).

That mentality of "All men are born equal but some more equal than others" must be suppressed

Black people should act their own stories jare. Bunch of fools

There is bigger racism or whatever you may call it in Nigeria.
Nigerian Tribalism is worse than Oyibo racism.

They should stop black washing historically white characters though

Elsueno:
I actually did not like how the whites ganged up on d young girl.

But to be fair, let's be honest, Juliet should not be black just as much as black panther cannot be white.

its much better to look for or create an original story that requires a young black actress.


It's a shame really, I perfectly understand how she's feeling sha

racism is US is normal these days

Tribalism is worse than Racism. It is better to sit at the table of a racist than to sit at the table of a tribalist.

When I become the president of this country, like am nursing it on mind. I will make make this country world power that other African countries will learn. Our leaders lack this sense

h

No hating.
But I think she's too ugly to be Juliet what the hell

They should have gotten a better looking black actress

Ignore racists, they are very insecure and projecting

Judolisco:
I don't know what you guys were expecting.... It's like picking a white lady to act as a slave from West africa... Na wetin meet una bdat oh..... Make government reduce fuel price, make everywhere soft abeg

Exactly my thoughts. When William Shakespeare wrote the play, he had no black man in mind. What's black man business with a white man love story.

I'm sure it's not about the colour of the actor but the woke agenda Hollywood has in turning movies to something they are not suppose to be. We all know Romeo and Juliet is not a story of a black woman. Hollywood should represent characters they way they are suppose to be. Stoping pushing Woke BS

All these woke people might end this world if not checked..

How the f*CK will you cast a black person as Juliet??

Same way they want to cast a female as Bond in 007.

Soon a white man will be black panther.

Noted.

swiz123:
Thinking you are better than someone because of your skin color is nothing short of mental illness.

Because of tribe or religion nko?

Avedonn:


Exactly my thoughts. When William Shakespeare wrote the play, he had no black man in mind. What's black man business with a white man love story.

But a white man played Tarzan 😐

na some people sane community be that