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. A number of fans objected to the African-American actress being cast in the role. Jenna Ortega Starring in New Movie with The Weeknd, Cady Heron's Mom Has Been Cast for 'Mean Girls' Movie Musical. Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she I am so excited for the kids that are going to be cast in that and how theyll inspire a new generation of young women. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. The Chris Columbus-directed film was greeted with a lukewarm reception from critics and even worse reactions from devout fans of the series. Her story is about how she feels ignored, underestimated, and abandoned. First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself. 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. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson cast. Finally, the Percy Jackson series was going to be gifted a second chance with Rick Riordan at the helm. ", More:Notorious B.I.G. The Wise Girl has arrived!. We all do. Other notable castings include Glynn Turman as Chiron, Timm Sharp as Gabe Ugliano, and Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue. But, elements of the fandom online have been hyper critical of Jefferies' inclusion. Instead, it was about how audiences could not imagine Rue as anything but white, despite her being Black in the book. Naturally, rampant anticipation followed the announcement. 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. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Friends, that is racism. Percy Jackson's Annabeth Controversy Brought Out Some Fans' Ugly Side By Cara Smart Published May 20, 2022 Casting controversies aren't uncommon, but Percy Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!! main love interest for Percy. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. WebAnnabeth Chase is a Greek demigod, daughter of the goddess Athena and professor Frederick Chase, and the cousin of Norse demigod Magnus Chase. 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. WebPercy Jackson Author Shuts Down Backlash to Casting Black Actress as Annabeth Chase: Friends, That Is Racism 10 May 2022 by Andi Ortiz The Wrap Rick Riordan will not stand Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content Learn more about contributing Edit page 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. They need to stop. Warm messages continued to pour in, including one from a Twitter user who commented, A REMINDER THAT NO HATE FOR WALKER SCOBELL, LEAH SAVA JEFFRIES, AND ARYAN SIMHADRI ARE ALLOWED. "Watch the show or don't. In the movie adaptions of Rick's book, Annabeth is played by white actress Alexandra Daddario. You didnt learn anything from them. Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is speaking out against racist backlash from fans upset with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ adaptation. Watch the show or dont. 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. There is power in plurality. Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Furthermore, Annabeth did not have blonde hair or grey eyes. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth's strength. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. With their casting announcement came waves of backlash. 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? That should mean something. (As a fat person myself, I am happy with this change as the way they were written in the original books was to be insulting. Leah is a twelve-year-old child. 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 This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. Whats more? 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. It is worth noting that in the book Annabeth is described as having blonde hair, Percy is described as having black hair, and Grover is described as having brown hair. WebLeah Sava Jeffries (born September 25, 2009) is an actress who will portray Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Meet the 'Percy Jackson' Series' Annabeth Chase! She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. 2 min read Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Leah won the role of Annabeth out of ten thousand other girls. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive. Why can we not have both brand new characters and race-bend whatever characters we want? He is heavily involved with the show, however, and most recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, highly praising both actors (and sharing a picture of him and the three leads). This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. This is something that other studios have failed to do, but it should not be commended. The only other thing she has is her wisdom and her ambition. When reading the reactions to his casting most of the comments were about how genius Riordans casting was except for a few expected trolls. She does not have superpowers like her closest friends. Let's examine that statement. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online areoutof line. People cannot fathom that Black actresses, who auditioned for a role, were better than the white people who tried out. Percy Jackson & the Olympians fans showed their more controversial side when Leah Jeffries was cast as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ TV series. When the fan base learned that Disney+ was picking up their beloved franchise for a second shot at on-screen adaptation, they were ecstatic. Rick Riordan created Percy Jackson and the Olympians as a way for his son to see himself in the neurodiverse characters of the world. The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. "Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. 1:58. New York, All rights reserved. Some of you have apparently felt offended or exasperated when your objections are called out online as racist. Why does no one seem to care that much? You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. Its a The response to Diors casting is colored by her being an antagonist, meanwhile, Leah is playing a hero. Alexandra Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. But I am not racist, you say. Lets not forget that mermaids are literally fictional creatures living under the sea. Fan entitlement is far-reaching. Who Is Leah Sava Jeffries? Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. But the author added not every response has been supportive. 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. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. She is not even a teenager. What much of this outcry boils down to is fan entitlement, anti-blackness, and misogynoir. She might be perfect and a great actress but Annabeth is supposed to be blonde hair with grey eyes like Athena., I really wanted them to do everything by the book. 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. Aryan Simhadri (left) and Leah Jeffries (right). When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Annabeth The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. She will also be starring in the upcoming Prime Video movie Something From Tiffanys, alongside Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Shay Mitchell. 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 This entitlement is intertwined with white supremacy. 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? Annabeth has always been incredibly important to me. It should mean almost everything. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have 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. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon. 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. They claim that Annabeths story was about overcoming the dumb blonde stereotype in a world full of brunettes. Hopefully, hearing from the previous live-action Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as unlikely as that may be. Thompson remarked that she had to weather the storm and just act through it. Aryan Simhadri and Walker Scobell had also been cast for the new series. The key differences between the two actors? 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WebThen, on June 2, 2022, Variety and Rick Riordan announced five adult cast members joining the Percy Jackson crew. Likes: fashion, books, old buildings. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. The Percy Jackson backlash is similar to what Halle Bailey experienced when she was cast as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid. The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. They said that Clarisse was white and built. Lets not even get into the complete disregard of the story from the source material. Alexandra Daddario originally portrayed the role of Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, as well as its sequel The Sea of Monsters. 'It is not racist to want an actor who is accurate to the books description of the character!' Two-thirds of the main trio would no longer be white like they had once been in the books. Dior herself has mentioned that she is in the gym, as if that matters. One of the main gripes that anchored discourse in online circles was the way the characters looked. The author noted, We did that, and The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhaustive.. I have it. Jeffries also reaffirmed her confidence in herself, and thanked the supportive fans for their positive comments. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Disneys Percy Jackson show casts two more main characters, Sign up for the That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. She doesnt look the way I always imagined.. 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