'Riverdale' creator apologizes and vows to better represent people of color
Following Vanessa Morgan‘s words about the issues regarding the treatment of black actors and characters on Riverdale this week, the show’s creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is releasing a statement apologizing to Morgan and saying they are planning ways to do better for the black community.
In the post, Aguirre-Sacasa also says all of the Riverdale writers have made a donation to Black Lives Matter LA and will be a part of the movement instead of outside of it.
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The statement begins by saying they are listening to Vanessa Morgan and she is right about her views on the show. It outlines that they plan to work on correcting the problem within the writers room and will do better to honor black actors and characters in their show.
“We hear Vanessa. We love Vanessa. She’s right. We’re sorry and we make the same promise to you that we did to her. We will do better to honor her and the character she plays. As well as all of our actors and characters of color. CHANGE is happening and will continue to happen. Riverdale will get bigger, not smaller. Riverdale will be part of the movement, not outside it. All of the Riverdale writers made a donation to @BLMLA, but we know where the work must happen for us. In the writers’ room.”
#hearvanessamorgan @BLMLA #riverdale ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gnlI8Dh9yz
— RobertoAguirreSacasa (@WriterRAS) June 5, 2020
Numerous fans are cautious about if this will actually lead to change though.
you made these promises about toni before, and not followed through on them, but i hope all of this has opened your eyes that you can’t get away with that anymore, and this time really will be different. we, and the media now, will be waiting.
— britney (@mylittlefaith) June 5, 2020
Good. But these are just words right now. Let’s see some action, especially in the coming season. Do better, she deserves it. ? #hearvanessamorgan
— chlo$ (@chloemeyers26) June 5, 2020
We’ve heard these lies numerous times especially from @TheCW producers so excuse us if we don’t believe you. Y’all have to show us proof. By the way you also need to give her and @iamamurray equal pay as the rest of their white counterparts
— #RunIrisRun ⚡️? (@AlexisWaverider) June 5, 2020
Let’s not even talk about how they faked us about Josie spinoff but ended up being Lucy has the lead.
— Truthhurts (@GirlWonder3) June 5, 2020
how do you plan on doing that though? because i don’t think it’ll work with a writers room that mostly consists of white old man? time for you to clear the writers room and hire more diverse writers that actually get it and don’t only make empty promises
— ?c (@charmingcrown) June 5, 2020
We expect Toni to get her own storylines, a family, learning how she came out & also Vanessa getting equal pay. Please actually do better in the writers room
— morgan (@coopertopaz) June 5, 2020
This comes after Vanessa Morgan spoke out about being paid less than her white co-stars and being used as a “token biracial bisexual” in the show.
Other black actors from the franchise including Asha Bromfield and Ashleigh Murray also spoke out about the way they’ve been treated on the show and its spinoff series.
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