Rick Riordan, author of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” is calling out fans for being racist following the outrage over the casting of a Black actress in the forthcoming television adaptation of the popular book series.
Leah Jeffries has been cast to play Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ adaptation, but fans are outraged because Annabeth is described as White in the novels.
Apparently, folks are mad because Leah’s blackness doesn’t align with the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” books.
Rick Riordan addressed the foolishness, condemned the haters, and defended Leah Jeffries in a recent blog post.
In the post, he wrote:
You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white.
Friends, that is racism.
Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth’s strength. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.
Rick also started the hashtag #LeahIsOurAnnabeth and it was trending by Tuesday afternoon.
Read a few tweets below.
Leah Jeffries also had a message for her haters:
It’s so unfortunate that we live in a world where this type of nonsense is still an issue.
Congratulations to Leah! I know she’s going to be an amazing Annabeth.
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