She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.". On Tuesday, the author issued a lengthy statement defending the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. In fact, many stans will attach themselves to any white actor who mentions they auditioned for the role instead of supporting the girl who fairly won the role. The only gift her mother ever gave her was an invisibility hat. You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. WebBest of 2022 Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Not even 24 hours after the worst of the attacks had begun, Riordan published a blog post where he called the trolling what it was, racist, and demanded that it stopped. Tessa Thompsons casting as Valkyrie, on the other hand, unleashed a hellfire of vitriol. She is not a woman. When I was 10 years old, I discovered a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. ", More:Notorious B.I.G. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. Without having seen her play the part, you have pre-judged her (pre + judge = prejudice) and decided she must have been hired simply to fill a quota or tick a diversity box. Leah Jeffries was announced as Annabeth and Aryan Simhadri was announced as Grover. But the author added not every response has been supportive. She has also always been Black to me. You feel I must have been coerced, brainwashed, bribed, threatened, whatever, or I as a white male author never would have chosen a Black actor for the part of this canonically white girl. Other commentators online have likened the treatment of the young actress to how John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran were treatedduring their Star Wars tenures. Coming up, Leah will star in the movie Beast with Idris Elba, which finds Elba on a trip to South Africa, only for he and his two teenage daughters to be hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savanna has but one apex predator, according to The Wrap. Now. This is not something new. They said that Clarisse was white and built. By Allison Schonter - May 12, 2022 09:18 am EDT. Now. Annabeth has always been incredibly important to me. Rather than finding excitement in the concept of new interpretations of classic characters, social media trolls tend to share negative critiques without seeing the finished product first, and in this case share them before filming has even started. Let's examine that statement. While the response to Leah Jeffries casting was indeed mostly positive, the young actress was subject to some intense bullying on her social media accounts. ", "If you don't get that, if you're still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesn't matter how many times you have read the books. ", Related:Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music. ", The author added that those saying Jeffries doesn't fit the role because she's not white are dismissing her "years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. ! the actress wrote of her successor in a Twitter post earlier this week. But I am not racist, you say. At times, her character gets into situations that are not pretty. Aryan Simhadri and Walker Scobell had also been cast for the new series. Weve got you covered! Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. I have it. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. Now, former Percy Jackson film franchise star Alexandra Daddario has chimed in with a simple but supportive message for the actress taking over her former role. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson cast. The idea of blackwashing is a clear example of misogynoir. What did you think about his statement? It was groundbreaking, yes, but calls of gingercide and intense hate were thrown at Patton. Rick Riordan and the rest of the Percy Jackson crew immediately came out against the racist trolls. If that doesnt speak to the Black girl experience, I dont know what does. 0:00. Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content Learn more about contributing Edit page The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. The Wise Girl has arrived!. Percy Jackson Author Shuts Down Backlash to Casting Black Actress as Annabeth Chase: Friends, That Is Racism We should be able to agree that bullying and "Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. In the series, we follow 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he stumbles into the world of Greek gods and monsters. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. In the movie adaptions of Rick's book, Annabeth is played by white actress Alexandra Daddario. "Watch the show or don't. Alexandra Daddario originally portrayed the role of Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, as well as its sequel The Sea of Monsters. Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. Annabeth must work ten times harder than everyone around her to be seen as powerful and worthy of being a hero. Friends, that is racism. Here's What You Can Do To Fix Them, Charlize Theron and Jisoo Wow at Diors Fall-Winter 2023 Womens Show in Paris, Mayfair Witches: Jack Huston Talks Show vs. Book Lasher in Season 1 Finale, 'Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches' Season 1 Finale Recap: The Prophecy Is All Relative, The Mysterious Benedict Society Canceled By Disney+ After 2 Seasons, Why 23 Jump Street Never Happened (Is There Still A Chance? Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Its a shame such posts need to be written, but they do. Furthermore, Annabeth did not have blonde hair or grey eyes. We all do. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid federal pressure to lower costs of life-saving medication, Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music, Notorious B.I.G. And not just white people like me. Meanwhile, Jaffries will portray Annabeth, a brilliant strategist and a daughter of Athena. You have no one else to blame. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth's strength. Arguably, Pattons role as Iris West started the trend of race-bending originally white characters with Black actors. Of course, these people lack a basic understanding of the human body. Alexandra Daddario Supports Percy Jackson Series Casting Of Annabeth Role As Leah Jeffries Speaks Out About Online Bullying, Hoda Kotb Absent From Today Due To Family Health Matter, Savannah Guthrie Still Out After Positive Covid Test, Hoda Kotb's Today Absence Due to 'Family Health Matter', iPhone GIFs Not Working? WebAlexandra Daddario: Annabeth Showing all 35 items Jump to: Photos (29) Quotes (6) Photos 6 more photos Quotes [last lines] [Annabeth leaning in as if to kiss Percy, then swiping his She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as whitethat is racism.#LeahIsOurAnnabeth Read Ricks statement at the link below:https://t.co/DGeOzrjZuw. WebAnnabeth Chase is a fictional character in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series. Something went wrong. When reading the reactions to his casting most of the comments were about how genius Riordans casting was except for a few expected trolls. Two-thirds of the main trio would no longer be white like they had once been in the books. I have been clear, as the author, that I was looking for the best actors to inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters, and that physical appearance was secondary for me. Alexandra Daddario is talking all about Disney+s upcoming Percy Jackson series, which is expected to debut sometime in 2022. Her casting as Annabeth Chase was announced in May 2022, along with the announcement of the casting of Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. Web11 May 2022 by Valerie Complex Deadline Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ show Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. Leah won the role of Annabeth out of ten thousand other girls. Why does no one seem to care that much? Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong., The New York Times bestselling author said that although he and Leah discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online are out of line. He added, They need to stop. Rick Riordan made a promise that he was going to try to keep the spirit of his books alive with young actors who would be accurate to the ages of the characters. Lets not even get into the complete disregard of the story from the source material. Its a In a lengthy blog post published earlier this week, In 2012, Amandla Stenberg was cast as Rue Barnette in The Hunger Games. But thats another article altogether.) The Percy Jackson backlash is similar to what Halle Bailey experienced when she was cast as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid. Twelve-year-old actress Leah Sava Jeffries is being harassed simply because she is Black, while the character she will play, Annabeth Chase, was described as white in "These thoughts are mine alone. This was the moment of redemption that everyone had been waiting for. The conversation turned odious enough for the creative to create a post on his website calling for the end of the harassment the young actor has faced. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. You didn't learn anything from them," the creator notes. Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. Alexandra Daddario and author Rick Riordan sent support to Leah Jeffries amid fan backlash to the young actress being cast on the upcoming "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series on Disney+. 'It is not racist to want an actor who is accurate to the books description of the character!' However, when Jason Momoa, a Polynesian man with brown hair and brown eyes, was cast as the character in 2014, there was very little backlash. But, elements of the fandom online have been hyper critical of Jefferies' inclusion. Who would take roles as the gods and, more importantly, who would be Annabeth? From the outset of casting for the Disney+ series, Rick says he made it She was the daughter of Olivia Lyon, Jamals ex wife, who claimed she was his daughter, but it turned out she wasnt. Saying I am not racist! is simply declaring that you deny your own biases and refuse to work on them. You refuse to believe me, the guy who wrote the books and created these characters, when I say that these actors are perfect for the roles because of the talent they bring and the way they used their auditions to expand, improve and electrify the lines they were given. Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. Oops. This page was last changed on 26 October 2022, at 04:22. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left.. WebAnnabeth Chase is a Greek demigod, daughter of the goddess Athena and professor Frederick Chase, and the cousin of Norse demigod Magnus Chase. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. In the meantime, you can check out the original film with your Disney+ subscription, or check out these other 2022 TV release dates to begin planning your viewing schedule. You feel I must have been coerced, brainwashed, bribed, threatened, whatever, or I as a white male author never would have chosen a Black actor for the part of this canonically white girl. There were also people in the comments pretending to care about fat people to veil their racism. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? For every role, please submit qualified performers without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. In the books, Rue was a dark-skinned Black girl, and Amandla is light-skinned. Another critique Ive seen about the Annabeth casting has been why race-bend one character when we can create new Black characters? I counter with this question: why must they be mutually exclusive? Following the release of Riordans statement, #LeahIsOurAnnabeth began trending on Twitter, with fans voicing their support for the young actress. This trio is the best. A Special Thank You to @disneyplus @rickriordan this is such a wonder experience Im so excited and to all the PERCY JACKSON & ANNABETH fans!!! Its a shame such posts need to be written, but they doLeah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. Who would be Grover? In a lengthy blog post published earlier this week, Riordan condemned the racist remarks made toward the young star set to play Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians., This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, Riordan wrote. It's going to be a fantastic, exciting ride! This is not unique to the Percy Jackson fandom. Filming for Percy Jackson and the Olympians begins this summer in Vancouver. The fact of the matter is that people should not be harassing Leah Jeffries and getting her TikTok removed because they feel a disconnect between her and a fictional book character. The character could not be Biracial. His blonde hair was a negligible non-issue that was largely brushed aside. Rick Riordan, writer and author of the popular fantasy novel Percy Jackson, is speaking out against critics angered by the casting of Leah Jeffries. Simadri plays Grover, Percys best friend who is secretly a satyr, a half-man half-goat creature from Greek mythology. By Aaron Perine - May 10, 2022 01:25 pm EDT 0 Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan had to pen a letter supporting Leah Jeffries after she had been cast as Annabeth Likes: fashion, books, old buildings. In the second film, Alexandra dyed her hair blonde to resemble Annabeth more. The things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual greatness. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be., Riordan dared those with a problem with this casting to take it up with me. He added, You have no one else to blame. We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong, Riordan wrote. Its how we navigate the world based on what were taught and our own personal histories.. Once you see Leah as Annabeth, she will become exactly the way you imagine Annabeth, assuming you give her that chance, but you refuse to credit that this may be true, he wrote. You have no one else to blame," he continued."We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. The key differences between the two actors? 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You either are not aware, or have dismissed, Leahs years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence, Riordan wrote. main love interest for Percy. They join Walker Scobell, who will portray the titular Percy. Since then, there has been significant backlash to the casting of Jeffries, a Black actress, as Annabeth, described as white with blonde hair in the original books. Author Rick Riordan, who is also writing the series and cast the actors, has responded to the backlash on his blog. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? Shes real and fleshed out. Rick Riordan has strong words for fans upset with the casting of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," an upcoming Disney+ show based on his book series of the same name. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. She revealed in an Instagram live session that she was even driven to delete her TikTok account after receiving such hateful messages. Most notably, theres Candice Patton who was hired to play Iris West Allen in The Flash in 2014. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Take a look at her message below: Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! On Tuesday, the young adult novelist, 57, spoke out against backlash the show has received after Variety announced last ThursdaythatLeah Jeffries, a 12-year-old Black actress, will play Annabeth Chase, whom Riordan described in the books as white. As soon as you see her on the screen, you will know what I mean. New York, Here's What We Know, 5 Ways Perfect Match Restored My Faith In Netflix Dating Shows, The Good Doctor: Glassman's Big Loss Just Led To One Of Season 6's Most Heartfelt Moments, And I'm Ready For More, After LeBron James Broke His Scoring Record, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Dropped Thoughts On Why Hed Couldve Played Longer In Todays NBA, After The Bachelors Latest Breakup, Fans Are Starting To See Some Red Flags With Zach Shallcross. Worthy of being a hero the things that distinguish us from one another are often our marks of individual.. Mandalorian wrote out Gina Carano is Cara Dune Still Alive along with announcement. Another critique Ive seen about the Annabeth casting has been why race-bend one character when we can create new characters. Are called out online as racist how she looks, who will portray Annabeth, division. Who was hired to play Iris West started the trend of Race-Bending white... Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in powerful and worthy of being a.! 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