Tom Holland's “Romeo & Juliet” Costar Receives Support from Over 800 Black Actors After Receiving Racist Attacks

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers — who costars with Tom Holland in 'Romeo & Juliet' in London — has faced racist backlash online since her casting was announced

Hundreds of Black women and non-binary actors signed an open letter calling out racist online backlash against Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who is costarring with Tom Holland in a London production of Romeo & Juliet.

The Guardian first published the letter, which has been signed by over 800 actors in total and includes signatures from Lashana Lynch, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Sheila Atim, among others, on April 10. "The racist and misogynistic abuse directed at such a sweet soul has been too much to bear," the letter reads, noting that Amewudah-Rivers has received significant abuse online since the production announced she would star as Juliet in the William Shakespeare adaptation on March 28.

"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 letter states. "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."

The open letter comes after the production and its producers at the Jamie Lloyd Company released a statement on April 5 condemning "deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company" since it released its full cast list.

"This must stop," that statement, which did not name Amewudah-Rivers, read. "We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment." 

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The April 10 open letter written in support of Amewudah-Rivers, whose résumé includes roles in other Shakespeare plays like Macbeth and Othello, states that the group hopes the producers' statement "will extend to committed emotional support for Francesca on her journey with the production."

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"We want to send a clear message to Francesca and all Black women performers who face this kind of abuse - WE see you," the statement reads. "We see the art you manage to produce with not only the pressures that your white colleagues face but with the added traumatic hurdle of misogynoir. Those that came before you are by your side."

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"And to the keyboard warriors who feel discomfort in Our visibility, cry on the internet all you want, but We are here to stay," the open letter adds.

Holland first announced he was starring in Romeo & Juliet as Romeo back in February. The production is running at the Duke of Yorks' Theatre in London from May 11 through August 3; according to its website, the run is currently sold out.

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