Promotional image for Romeo and Juliet. Instagram | @franarivers
Imagine waiting and hoping all your life for a big break as an actor. Finally, your dream role arrives. But the joy is poisoned by people who won’t let you celebrate the feat, just because of your skin color. Francesca Amewudah-Rivers recently landed the role of Juliet in the London West End production of Romeo &Juliet, but she found herself being the target of hateful backlash and racist online bullying.
When it was announced that Spiderman star Tom Holland would play Romeo in the adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, produced by The Jamie Lloyd Company, fans were ecstatic and tickets sold out quickly. But all that changed when the full cast was unveiled, including Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet. She was called names as some trolls claimed she was too “ugly” and “masculine” to play Juliet.
The racist attacks were so much that the theater company’s own Instagram account had to disable the comment feature. The Jamie Lloyd Company quickly put out a statement condemning the racial abuse towards Amewudah-Rivers. The statement partly read:
“Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company. This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.”
According to the official website, Romeo & Juliet is set to run from May 11 until August 3 at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London. Tickets are currently marked as sold out.
Who is Francesca Amewudah-Rivers?
Amewudah-Rivers is an actor who was awarded the 2021 Evening Standard Future Theatre Award for Audio Design. She trained with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and studied Music at Oxford University. She has worked on projects with Shakespeare’s Globe, the Actors Touring Company, the Young Vic, the National Theatre, and the Roundhouse. According to her IMDb profile, Amewudah-Rivers’ screen credits go back to 2012 when she starred in several episodes of the British sitcom Bad Education. She has stage experience in productions at the Globe and Lyric Hammersmith among other venues. In addition to being an actress, Francesca is also a composer and a writer. She composed the short films Medea, Minutes and Messenger.
Society’s Reaction to a Black Juliet
Could it be that Amewudah-Rivers is getting a lot of media attention because she’s playing opposite extremely famous actor Tom Holland?
It is quite disheartening that Black artists, especially women, still have to deal with hateful comments and discriminatory behavior, solely based on race in 2024. When Amewudah-Rivers shared a post on social media announcing her casting, not only was her race attacked in the comment section, but her looks were also criticized. Some even suggested she was not fit for the role. This is despite her several outstanding stellar performances.
“They are rewriting history before our very eyes!” one of the trolls commented online, forgetting that this is a work of fiction. Moreover, the first Juliet in Shakespeare’s day was played by a boy.
Another keyboard warrior wrote that Amewudah-Rivers “is the worst casting ever for Juliet,” while a couple of critics opted to use vomiting emojis to express their opinions.
The intensity of the backlash, particularly for a dark-skinned actress, suggests a deeper bias. The barrage of racist, colorist, and misogynistic comments targeting her casting serves as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by Black women in the public eye.
Well, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers isn’t alone as a powerful movement rallies behind her. Over 800 Black actors signed an open letter showing support for their colleague. They condemned the racism faced by Amewudah-Rivers and others. Among the hundreds who signed the letter are “James Bond” and Marvel star Lashana Lynch, Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Sheila Atim (The Woman King), Oscar nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies) and Lolly Adefope (Ghosts).
The letter published in The Guardian reads: “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.”
Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis also spoke up against the hate directed at Amewudah-Rivers. Davis wrote on her Instagram:
“I stand in solidarity with every Black artist everywhere! Ability and talent are gifts that should not be seen or used as limitations because of Race. Perhaps the real question for those who took it upon themselves to spout this abuse is… ‘Why does it bother you so much?’”
On X, Dan Therriault, who is credited as a screenwriter, wrote:
“The vitriol online attacking actress Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (cast as Juliet in a London stage production) for being ‘ugly’ is obscene. Juliet is a regular girl. I don’t remember any attacks on Claire Danes, another normal looking actress.”
Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in a promotional image for Romeo and Juliet. Instagram | @romeojulietldn
Why a Black Juliet Makes Some Uncomfortable
Amewudah-Rivers isn’t the first Black performer to face criticism for a Shakespearean portrayal. When Denzel Washington was cast as Macbeth in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the Oscar-winning actor also encountered backlash.
Shakespearean plays have been performed for centuries by actors of all backgrounds. However, it appears some are yet to come to terms with the practice of colorblind casting (the practice of casting without considering the actor’s ethnicity or race). The recent racist backlash faced by Amewudah-Rivers is proof of this. Representations of women of color have increased in recent years on stage and screen. And yet, there is still so much intolerance. Once a Black woman is announced to star in a role typically associated with a White woman, people are quick to hide behind their keyboards to dish so much hate. But why are people so bothered about a Black woman playing the role of Juliet?
Unfortunately, racism still exists, whether consciously or unconsciously. As much as some claim they don’t see color, race seems to matter a lot when it comes to Shakespeare. Some are still holding on to outdated views about what characters can look like. Just like the trolls who have said Amewudah-Rivers doesn’t fit the role. This is because they believe Juliet should look a certain way, and Rivers doesn’t fit that. Some are not accustomed to seeing Black actors in traditionally White roles, so this triggers them, even though Shakespeare never specified Juliet’s race.
The historical tradition of casting White actors in Shakespearean roles has limited opportunities for Black actors. The underrepresentation of actors of color in major roles may provoke reactions ranging from discomfort to outright opposition when they are cast in roles traditionally played by White actors.
Breaking Barriers and Challenging Traditional Casting Practices in Theater
The cruel irony of facing bullying while embodying a character who represents love and acceptance wasn’t lost on Amewudah-Rivers. However, she’s not letting it stop her from shining. Despite the backlash, this marks a huge step forward in her acting career. When asked about her casting, she said:
“I’m so grateful to be making my West End debut as Juliet with The Jamie Lloyd Company.
“It’s a dream to be joining this team of incredible artists with Jamie at the helm. I’m excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.”
Amewudah-Rivers’ role as Juliet is challenging the long-standing practice of casting based on race. It promotes inclusivity in the theatre industry by providing representation for underrepresented groups. This sends a powerful message to actors of diverse backgrounds that they can take on iconic roles, irrespective of their race or gender.
There is a need for increased diversity and representation in classical theater. Casting actors from a multitude of backgrounds is a reflection of societal progress. Casting actors of color in traditionally White roles breathes new life into familiar stories, reflecting the diversity of the real world. This ensures that theatre is an experience everyone can enjoy.
Those still holding on to the status quo need to realize that times have changed. Diverse casting breathes new life into theater and the arts, offering fresh perspectives and challenging outdated norms. Casting a Black Juliet breathes new life into “Romeo and Juliet,” shattering traditional expectations and making the timeless themes of the play – love, loss, and societal barriers – more relatable to a broader audience.
