Vanessa Morgan Calls Out 'Riverdale' for Sidelining Black Characters

From Harper's BAZAAR

• Vanessa Morgan, who plays Toni Topaz on Riverdale, is speaking out against how Black people are treated in both the entertainment industry and the CW show itself.

• "Tired of us also being used as side kick non dimensional characters to our white leads," she wrote on Twitter.

• Morgan vowed that she will fight for her Black fans and will no longer take roles "that don't properly represent us."

Vanessa Morgan is taking a stand. The actress who portrays Toni Topaz on the hit CW series Riverdale is using her platform on social media to speak out about the portrayal of Black people in media and in entertainment, including the very show on which she stars.

The 28-year-old star tweeted last week, "Tired of how Black people are portrayed in Media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry scary people. Tired of us also being used as side kick non dimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show."

Morgan stars alongside actors Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, and Camila Mendes on the series. But she clarified that her comments are not directed at her costars, who fully stand behind her. "My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends," she wrote. "They don't write the show. So no need to attack them, they don't call the shots & I know they have my back."

Reinhart even commented, "We love you, V. And support you 10000%."

Former costar Hayley Law also chimed in on Morgan's tweet. "I've felt this from the beginning. We are so much more," she wrote.

Morgan, who has appeared in the TV shows Degrassi: The Next Generation and Finding Carter, concluded with a mission to do right by her Black fans, declaring she would no longer take roles that are tokenized or inadequately represent the community.

"To my black fans, I have now made it my purpose to fight for us. To the six year old me who had no role model that looked like me on TV. This is for you. We aren't your token black non dimensional characters. This is being black in Hollywood. I will fight for YOU," she tweeted yesterday.

"And I will no longer take roles that don't properly represent us. PERIOD."

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