'It's really unfair': The Sidekick's Jodie Turner-Smith doesn't hold back on feeling like Disney avoided defending actors from backlash

The Acolyte was canceled due to low viewership, and yet the series remains one of the most talked about recent series. It has been impossible to separate the fate of the series from the racist reactions it received and, now Acolyte Actor Jodie Turner-Smith speaks out. In short, the actress minces her words, criticizing Disney for apparently not defending the series and its stars.

Jodie Turner-Smith played Aniseya, the mother of the sisters played by star Amandla Stenberg. The actress remembers being very excited when Stenberg handed her a literal essay on her character so that the two were on the same page about how she envisioned playing the role. Turner-Smith also gushed about Stenberg while speaking with Glamor Magazine, praising the actress’ dedication:

I’ve never worked with anyone who handed me an essay on their character. The Virgin in me said: “Yass, I live for this!” She put so much care and thought and love into this, and it’s disappointing to feel like your studio isn’t supporting you in a very public way.

This is far from the first time a person of color has received a torrent of hate after starring in a major motion picture. Disney itself witnessed this largely due to the decision to cast actresses like Halle Bailey and Rachel Zegler as live-action Disney princesses. This has also happened outside of the House of Mouse, and Jodie Turner-Smith wants all studios to use their platforms to support people going through it, rather than doing what they frequently do, c ‘that is to say, keep silent. She continued…

They need to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything while people are flooded with racism and bullshit on the internet. It’s just not right to say nothing. It’s really unfair.

The fact that Disney and Lucasfilm have remained largely silent for The AcolyteThe issues are interesting because the company has not always remained on the sidelines. Moses Ingram, who was part of the Obi Wan the show’s cast also received a lot of racist backlash. However, when this happened, the manager Star Wars social media accounts spoke out against the hate she was receiving.

Studios are obviously hesitant to get into issues like this because it could have a financial impact on them, which is their ultimate motivation. However, the Queen and thin star suggests that studios may find that supporting these stars and actively fighting racism could be the most financially lucrative move. She explained…

It would just be nice if the people who have all the money would show their support and put their feet up. Saying it’s unacceptable: “You’re not a fan if you do this.” » Make a really big statement and see if any money goes away. I bet you no, because people of color, and especially black people, represent a very large percentage of purchasing power. They might find it’s actually more lucrative for them, but everyone uses “woke” like it’s a dirty word.

With no indication that this type of behavior is going to stop anytime soon, studios will continue to have to decide how to handle these issues. In the meantime, Disney+ subscription. holders can still stream the single season of The Acolyte.