Tom Holland Urged to Speak Out After Nearly 900 Black Actors Condemn Racial Abuse of Romeo & Juliet Star Francesca Amewudah-Rivers

Getty Images

Tom Holland is being implored to show public support for Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, his costar in Jamie Lloyd's West End production of Romeo & Juliet, as she faces a barrage of racial abuse following her casting announcement. The pressure on Holland to speak out is intensifying; on April 10, almost 900 Black artists and fellow performers published an open letter in The Guardian condemning the online vitriol aimed towards Amewudah-Rivers.

The letter was organized by actor Susan Wokoma (best known for her work in Chewing Gum and Enola Holmes) and playwright Somalia Nonyé Seaton. Its 883 signatories include Lashana Lynch (Marvel Cinematic Universe, No Time to Die, One Love), Sheila Atim (The Woman King), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (The Book of Clarence), Lolly Adefope (Saltburn), Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who), and Wunmi Mosaku (Loki and Lovecraft Country).

The public address begins: “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."

“When news of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers’ casting in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Romeo and Juliet was announced so many people celebrated and welcomed this news. Many of us took to social media to shower our baby sis with love and congratulations — a huge deal for someone so young in their career. A huge rising talent," the letter continues.

"But then what followed was a too familiar horror that many of us visible Black dark skinned performers have experienced. The racist and misogynistic abuse directed at such a sweet soul has been too much to bear. 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.”

Amewudah-Rivers was officially announced as the West End's latest Juliet on March 28. In the two weeks since her casting was revealed, the darkskinned British actress has been the subject of racist, colorist, and misogynistic commentary online, with many criticizing her casting from a lens of desirability and attacking her appearance.

The backlash became so virulent that the Jamie Lloyd Company issued a public statement to social media on April 5, decrying the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company.”

“This must stop,” the company emphasized in bold lettering. “We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment." Though Amewudah-Rivers was not explicitly named in the statement, the Jamie Lloyd Company pledged to “support and protect everyone" in the production “at all costs."

“Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness," concluded the address. “The ‘Romeo & Juliet’ community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”

In Wednesday's letter of support from Black women and non-binary entertainers, the Jamie Lloyd Company's statement was applauded with hopes that their public promise of protection will “extend to committed emotional support for Francesca on her journey with the production.”

“Too many times theatre companies, broadcasters, producers and streamers have failed to offer any help or support when their Black artists face racist or misogynistic abuse. Reporting is too often left on the shoulders of the abused, who are also then expected to promote said show,” the collective noted. "We want to send a clear message to Francesca and all Black women performers who face this kind of abuse — we see you. 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. We are so excited to watch you shine.”

As more continue to defend Amewudah-Rivers, Tom Holland's silence is not going unnoticed. On April 8, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story star Arsema Thomas reposted a call to action from fellow British actress Selina Jones on Instagram.

“You lot need to put pressure pon @tomholland2013's head top — I need my guy to say something, ANYTHING, about the disgusting racial abuse being thrown at our angel Fran,” wrote Jones. “Comment, tweet, share, pressure him… Our power as a people and a community should never be underestimated. Avengers assemble.”

Thomas agreed, writing her own thoughts over Jones's graphic: “So bloody true.” While it's important to note that Holland actively avoids social media for his mental health, the star occasionally logs back on to show support for his girlfriend Zendaya or to promote his own projects. After The Guardian's letter of support was published on April 10, Huffington Post's senior culture reporter Candice Frederick wrote on X, “When is her white costar Tom Holland, who's dating a Black woman in real life, going to also publicly speak out?”

Jamie Lloyd's Romeo & Juliet is set to open at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre May 23 through August 3, to a strictly limited sold out run.

Editor's note: this story was first published on April 5 and updated on April 10, 2024.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue