Vanessa Morgan Speaks Out About ‘Riverdale’ Using Black Actresses as “Sidekick Nondimensional Characters”
Vanessa Morgan says she’s tired of being used as a “sidekick nondimensional character” on Riverdale.
The actress also confirmed she’s paid the least on-set.
Riverdale star Vanessa Morgan is opening up about racial inequality on the show’s set. The actress first tweeted about the issue on Sunday, writing, “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 sidekick nondimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show. It starts with the media. I’m not being quiet anymore.”
I’m not being Quite anymore. ✊🏽 #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JXgJic4mrR
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) May 31, 2020
Vanessa also explained that she’s paid the least among her fellow cast members and feels like her character is the “token biracial bisexual.”
Lmao too bad I’m the only black series regular but also paid the least 😂👏🏽 girl i could go on for days 🐸
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
But exactly, used as the token biracial bisexual
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
Additionally, she made it clear that her castmates don’t have anything to do with the decisions made in the writers’ room and responded to a supportive tweet from Lili Reinhart.
My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends. They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them, they don’t call the shots & I know they have my back. ♥️
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
Love you ♥️ https://t.co/NQZLZkWqEe
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 3, 2020
In case you need more convincing that this is a troubling pattern on Riverdale (and in television in general), actress Asha Bromfield weighed in about her experience with how the show treated the Pussycats:
Don't even get me started with how Riverdale treated the Pussycats. We had so much more to contribute than standing in the background and adding sass to a storyline. I stand with you @VanessaMorgan. https://t.co/IUMm9xaFYO
— ASHA (@ashabrom) June 2, 2020
The Riverdale writers’ room has yet to respond to Vanessa’s tweets, but clearly, they have some work to do.
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