They need to stop. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. Aryan Simhadri (left) and Leah Jeffries (right). His blonde hair was a negligible non-issue that was largely brushed aside. They say that they could not picture Annabeth as Black, however for myself and many other Black women she was never anything other than that. You have it. On April 11th, Walker Scobell was introduced to the world as our new Percy. She was left defenseless by the writers and producers at the CW. This page was last changed on 26 October 2022, at 04:22. 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? ", Related:Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music. While Walker does not have Percys signature Black hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, Percy Jackson Disney+ Series Sets The Adam Project Breakout Walker Scobell in Lead Role, Alexandra Daddario Talks Percy Jackson Disney+ Series and the Chances of Her Return (Video). She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Why does no one seem to care that much? How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? The only gift her mother ever gave her was an invisibility hat. Lets not even get into the complete disregard of the story from the source material. "This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. 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. The show is based on the best-selling middle grade series, which takes palce in a world where Greek gods, heroes, and monsters are real. Leah is a twelve-year-old child. Rick Riordan will not stand for any racism toward or bullying of the new Percy Jackson cast. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Watch the show or dont. But this will be an adaptation that I am proud of, and which fully honors the spirit of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, taking the bedtime story I told my son twenty years ago to make him feel better about being neurodivergent, and improving on it so that kids all over the world can continue to see themselves as heroes at Camp Half-Blood. As soon as you see her on the screen, you will know what I mean. ", "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. She has also always been Black to me. The actress, who is Black, is set to star as one of the leads in the upcoming adaptation set to release on Disney+. 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Empire fans may recognize Leah from her role as Lola on the hit Fox drama. First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself," Riordan clarified. Annabeth 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. 0:00. 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. No actor should have to bear their job. This is something that other studios have failed to do, but it should not be commended. main love interest for Percy. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong," he continued. May 10, 2022 Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. Her story is about how she feels ignored, underestimated, and abandoned. By Aaron Perine Back in December, Daddario told WrapWomens UnWrapped podcast that she has no involvement in the new Disney+ series, but was excited to see who would be tapped to play the daughter of Athena next. newsletter, Destiny 2 power level guide, all caps and Powerful and Pinnacle gear sources explained, The best way to increase your Power level in Destiny 2s new Lightfall expansion, Marvel still doesnt know what to do with its most popular hero, Spider-Man, Spider-Man endures, almost in spite of many Spider-Man stories, Sign up for the People were in her Instagram comments calling for her death. We all do. With their casting announcement came waves of backlash. [1] References https://rickriordan.com/2022/05/the-trio-is-complete/ Others like you also viewed Annabeth Chase Percy Jackson Percy Jackson and the Olympians (TV series) Walker Scobell As more casting announcements are revealed for this television series, it is obvious that Rick Riordan is trying to diversify the world that he created. A number of fans objected to the African-American actress being cast in the role. Author Rick Riordan, who wrote the original Percy Jackson novels, released a statement on his website defending the young actress. He stated his intent to cast the series without regard for factors like ethnicity and gender, and that Leah Jeffries was the best actress to embody Annabeths strength. However, no one is saying the same thing about Tim Sharp. In the book, Gabe is also described as fat. And before you resort to the old kneejerk reaction I am not racist! lets examine that statement too. Oops. Like its so cool, Annabeth is a really inspiring character to people, she said. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. In the movie version, the characters were portrayed by Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario. Even now, Thompson still faces intense criticism while Elba was eventually accepted as Heimdall. Leah Jeffires definitely isnt the first Black actress to be the target of racist commenters after being cast in a role that was initially written as and played by a white person. 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? 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. Actor, singer, and occasional dancer. Alexandra reprises her role of Annabeth in the film adaptation of The Sea of Monsters. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. 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 not even a teenager. That's your call. From look I didnt want to be a half-blood, I was hooked. ", 'Percy Jackson' author Rick Riordan not a fan of the film adaptations, calls them a 'mess', He continued: "You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. However, like clockwork, racist trolls came out of every dank corner of the Internet. They need to stop. This is untrue. The common narrative being used to justify the backlash against Jeffries is that she is not blonde. Jeffries also reaffirmed her confidence in herself, and thanked the supportive fans for their positive comments. 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. WebAlexandra Anna Daddario (born March 16, 1986) is an American actress most notable for her portrayal of Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. The character could not be Biracial. 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 must work ten times harder than everyone around her to be seen as powerful and worthy of being a hero. People rejoiced. , Leah shared on Instagram. Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians. 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. People feel as though they have a claim to the characters, and therefore their word is law. On January 25th, 2022, author Rick Riordan announced that his first television series was finally greenlit by Disney+ and would soon be gracing our screens. Next, on June 21, 2022, Variety announced three additional One of the main gripes that anchored discourse in online circles was the way the characters looked. Lets not forget that mermaids are literally fictional creatures living under the sea. Riordan noted that he made quite clear a year ago that when he began his hunt for actors in the highly anticipated project, we would be following Disneys company policy on nondiscrimination before providing what that entails: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. You have no one else to blame, he said. She also is playing the (10-year-old spoiler alert!) ", 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. WebAnnabeth Chase is a Greek demigod, daughter of the goddess Athena and professor Frederick Chase, and the cousin of Norse demigod Magnus Chase. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Disneys Percy Jackson show casts two more main characters, Sign up for the She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.". ", More:Notorious B.I.G. ", Later in the letter, Riordan argues, "The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. I have it. Hopefully, hearing from the previous live-action Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as unlikely as that may be. She was the daughter of Olivia Lyon, Jamals ex wife, who claimed she was his daughter, but it turned out she wasnt. 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 The actress, who is Black, is set to star as one of the leads in the upcoming adaptation set to release on Disney+. 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. Amandla was fourteen. Rick Riordan went out looking for the most talented actors to portray the characters that he wrote and when he found them, they just so happened to not be white. It's going to be a fantastic, exciting ride! Meanwhile, Jaffries will portray Annabeth, a brilliant strategist and a daughter of Athena. The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus show. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. Alexandra !May 10, 2022. 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. Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. Please enter a valid email and try again. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. What much of this outcry boils down to is fan entitlement, anti-blackness, and misogynoir. Anyone can be a hero. Its a Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Alexandra Daddario originally portrayed the role of Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, as well as its sequel The Sea of Monsters. I was quite clear a year ago, when we announced our first open casting, that we would be following Disneys company policy on nondiscrimination: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. When Anna Diop was cast as Starfire in the DC show Titans, people could not fathom it. Now., After the announcement, fans of the mythological adventure called out the cast for not staying true to the book, like one Twitter user who said, I really wanted them to do everything by the book. Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. Except not quite. 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 are judging [Leah]s appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson cast. Shes real and fleshed out. You didn't learn anything from them," the creator notes. 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 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. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. 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. Watching her act with Walker and Aryan, I saw Annabeth Chase come to life. Annabeth has always been incredibly important to me. Its either something we recognize and try to work on, or its something we deny. 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. We did that. The anticipation for who would play Annabeth and Grover was even more excruciating after Percys announcement. 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. 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. For them, a world where a child of Athena is not white cannot exist because all of Athenas children are blonde. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!! newsletter, recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, Every movie and show coming to Netflix in March, All the big new games coming out in March, Pokemon Go leader counters for Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff in March 2023, Pokmon Go Rocket Giovanni counters, team in March 2023, PlayStation VR 2 games releasing in March, all upcoming titles for 2023, The official BTS Lego set is now available. "Buckle up, demigods. The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. Elba himself has described playing Heimdall as torture. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. Two-thirds of the main trio would no longer be white like they had once been in the books. 'But I am not racist,'you say. If that doesnt speak to the Black girl experience, I dont know what does. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hit theaters in 2010. 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? That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. 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. Now.. They claim that Annabeths story was about overcoming the dumb blonde stereotype in a world full of brunettes. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). They need to stop. In fact, when the author himself says that you have misunderstood the character as he wrote her, then you know youre wrong. 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. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. 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. Furthermore, Annabeth did not have blonde hair or grey eyes. 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