Why Black Actresses Face the Most Social Media Backlash

Social media has transformed the way audiences interact with entertainment and created a direct line between fans and celebrities. This accessibility has unfortunately given rise to coordinated campaigns of harassment against women of color in major franchises. Black actresses frequently face a unique intersection of racism and misogyny known as misogynoir when they are cast in high-profile roles. The following list highlights talented performers who endured significant online vitriol simply for doing their jobs.

Halle Bailey

Disney announced her casting as Ariel in the live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ to immediate controversy. A significant portion of the internet launched racist campaigns using hashtags to demand a white actress for the fictional role. The backlash continued for years leading up to the release despite support from the original voice actress. Bailey handled the scrutiny with grace while the film eventually found global success.

Leslie Jones

The comedian faced a coordinated campaign of hate after starring in the 2016 reboot of ‘Ghostbusters’. Trolls inundated her account with racist imagery and hateful comments regarding her appearance. The intensity of the harassment forced her to leave Twitter temporarily to protect her mental health. This incident highlighted the failure of social media platforms to protect marginalized talent from targeted abuse.

Moses Ingram

Her debut in the ‘Star Wars’ universe as Reva Sevander sparked an immediate wave of racist abuse online. Lucasfilm anticipated the negativity and warned the actress beforehand about the toxicity within certain segments of the fandom. Co-star Ewan McGregor released a video statement explicitly condemning the bullying and supporting Ingram. The situation exposed the ongoing struggle franchise fanbases have with diverse casting choices.

Lashana Lynch

Rumors that her character Nomi would hold the 007 codename in ‘No Time to Die’ triggered immense outrage. Traditionalists and trolls attacked the idea of a Black woman taking over the mantle from James Bond. Lynch addressed the backlash by noting that the conversation was bigger than her and centered on societal shifts. She deleted her social media apps to avoid the negativity surrounding the historic casting decision.

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers

The announcement of her casting as Juliet alongside Tom Holland in a West End production of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ led to a barrage of racial abuse. The theater company issued a statement condemning the deplorable racial harassment directed at a member of their company. Many industry peers rallied to support her against the vitriol that had nothing to do with her acting ability. The production proceeded despite the online noise and received critical acclaim.

Leah Sava Jeffries

Casting a Black actress as Annabeth Chase in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ upset fans attached to the physical description in the books. Author Rick Riordan published a blog post defending the decision and calling out the racism disguised as concern for source accuracy. The young actress faced bullying on TikTok and Instagram before the series even aired. Jeffries eventually won over many viewers with her performance in the popular Disney+ series.

Anna Diop

Leaked set photos of her character Starfire in ‘Titans’ fueled a wave of criticism regarding her costume and skin tone. Fans attacked the production for straying from the orange skin of the comic book character by casting a dark-skinned Black woman. Diop disabled her comment sections to block out the hateful rhetoric directed at her appearance. The official trailer release and subsequent seasons eventually quelled some of the initial superficial complaints.

Amandla Stenberg

This actress has faced consistent backlash from ‘The Hunger Games’ to the recent cancellation of ‘The Acolyte’. ‘Star Wars’ fans targeted her social media with review bombing and hateful comments regarding the perceived woke messaging of the show. Stenberg responded by releasing a music video that addressed the racism she encountered in the industry. The show was not renewed for a second season following the intense online discourse.

Jodie Turner-Smith

Her portrayal of the titular queen in the psychological thriller series ‘Anne Boleyn’ caused a stir among historical purists. Critics on social media argued that a historical figure known for her white skin should not be played by a Black woman. Turner-Smith dismissed the detractors by focusing on the humanity of the character rather than historical visuals. The backlash highlighted double standards regarding colorblind casting in period dramas.

Cynthia Erivo

The British actress faced criticism from African American communities regarding her casting as the American icon in ‘Harriet’. Social media users debated the ethics of non-American Black actors playing historical American figures. Recent backlash also occurred when fans edited the ‘Wicked’ poster to hide her face which she called deeply offensive. Erivo remains vocal about her right to take up space in Hollywood despite the digital noise.

Candice Patton

Playing Iris West in ‘The Flash’ made her a target for racist comic book fans for nearly a decade. She spoke out about the lack of support she received from the studio during the early seasons of the show. Trolls constantly compared her to the white version of the character from the comics to undermine her presence. Patton stayed on the series for nine seasons despite the emotional toll of the ongoing harassment.

Adele James

The release of the Netflix docudrama ‘Queen Cleopatra’ resulted in an international controversy involving the Egyptian government. Viewers and officials attacked the casting of a biracial Black woman as the historical ruler. James told critics to simply not watch the show if they did not like the casting choice. The backlash was severe enough that the streaming platform had to turn off comments on the trailer.

Jada Pinkett Smith

The actress became a primary target for internet mockery following her revelations on ‘Red Table Talk’. Public sympathy shifted dramatically after the 2022 Academy Awards incident involving her husband Will Smith. Social media users frequently dissect her past comments and relationship dynamics to paint her as a villain. She continues to face intense scrutiny and meme ridicule for every public appearance she makes.

Tessa Thompson

Marvel fans expressed anger when she was cast as Valkyrie in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ because the comic character is blonde and white. Thompson ignored the complaints and delivered a performance that made her a fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She later faced scrutiny for expressing a desire to work with directors who were not white men. Her outspoken nature often draws ire from conservative segments of the internet.

Zendaya

Early rumors that she would play Mary Jane Watson in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ led to complaints about changing the redhead character’s race. She also faced heavy criticism when cast as Aaliyah in a biopic which led her to drop out of the project entirely. The actress cited production values and respect for the family as reasons for leaving the biopic amid the social media storm. She has since cemented her status as a leading Hollywood star despite these early hurdles.

Viola Davis

The acclaimed actress faced intense criticism for her portrayal of Michelle Obama in ‘The First Lady’. Viewers took to social media to mock her facial expressions and the decision to purse her lips constantly. Davis admitted that the negative reception hurt her feelings and described the criticism as incredibly cruel. The backlash sparked a conversation about the immense pressure placed on actors portraying living historical figures.

Please share your thoughts on how studios should protect their talent from social media harassment in the comments.