[Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr]

Vanessa Morgan vows to deny acting roles misrepresenting black people

June 4, 2020

[Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr]

Riverdale star Vanessa Morgan is saying she is no longer accepting acting roles that don’t properly represent the black community.

The announcement comes after Morgan called attention to Riverdale producers’ involvement in mistreating black actors.

Read More: Vans gives $200K to civil rights funds in solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Earlier this week, Vanessa Morgan took to her social media showing her support for the Black Lives Matter movement while criticizing the film world’s role in perpetuating stereotypes and minimizing black people’s time on screen. She also highlighted the pay discrepancies among the Riverdale cast.

I’m not being Quite anymore. ✊? #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JXgJic4mrR

— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) May 31, 2020

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

Now, she’s standing strong on her sentiment by making it her purpose to show black people on television in a better light.

“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 writes on Twitter. “And I will no longer take roles that don’t properly represent us. PERIOD.”

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 ? https://t.co/OgsB5ZjDjE

— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 3, 2020

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

— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 3, 2020

Her fellow cast members have also highlighted their issues with Riverdale in regards to representation of the black community.

Asha Bromfield who played Melody Jones brought up the issues regarding the Pussycats, the all-black female musical group on the show.

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

Ashleigh Murray who currently plays the Pussycats’ Josie McCoy on the Riverdale spinoff series Katy Keene (starring Lucy Hale) also spoke out about how she’s been treated. She is hoping that as more actors speak out, equal treatment will start to happen.

These are the ways we can implement real change. The beginnings of concrete conversations and plans of action that will mold our future for the better. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal treatment. https://t.co/5IEK3iM81D

— Ashleigh Murray (@iamamurray) June 1, 2020

Morgan pointed out her cast members are on her side too after some criticized them and they also spoke out supporting her.

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