Brooklyn Nine-Nine ’s Stephanie Beatriz Wants Actors Who’ve Played Cops to Donate to Bail Funds
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a very funny, extremely beloved show about a group of wacky, charming cops. It's also a show that props up the law enforcement agencies that people all over the country are rallying against over systemic racism and unchecked police brutality.
Recently, Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk published “Cops Are Always the Main Character,” a piece examining how hundreds of cop shows—from Law & Order to Criminal Minds to even a show as comical as Brooklyn Nine-Nine—have centered stories around law enforcement and shaped the way viewers have perceived cops for decades.
As protests continue to mount over the death of George Floyd at the hands of four police officers—three of whom were not charged with a crime until nine days after Floyd was killed—the creative teams and casts behind these shows are starting to speak up. Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz, in particular, is encouraging any actor who makes money off playing a cop to donate to bail funds for protesters.
Beatriz, who has portrayed Detective Rosa Diaz on the series for seven seasons, matched actor Griffin Newman's pledge of $11,000. "I’m an actor who plays a detective on TV," she wrote on Twitter June 2. "If you currently play a cop? If you make tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in residuals from playing a cop? I’ll let you do the math. (Thanks @GriffLightning for leading the way)."
Brooklyn Nine-Nine's cocreator Dan Goor and the cast have donated $100,000 to the National Bail Fund. "The cast and showrunner of Brooklyn 99 condemn the murder of George Floyd and support the many people who are protesting police brutality nationally," Goor shared in a Twitter statement.
Now more actors, writers, and creatives on cop shows are speaking out and/or opening up their wallets.
Law & Order: SVU actor Ice-T has been speaking out for days about what's happening:
Meanwhile, L&O creator Dick Wolf has reportedly fired a writer of an upcoming spin-off for allegedly threatening to “light up” looters. “I will not tolerate this conduct, especially during our hour of national grief. I am terminating Craig Gore immediately,” Wolf said in a statement, according to The Wrap.
Only time will tell how these shows will adjust to the current climate when production resumes, as most are still on hold due to COVID-19. My personal hope for Brooklyn Nine-Nine? They all quit and open the meatball sub restaurant of Charles Boyle's dreams.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
