The children of Greek gods attend a summer camp known as Camp Half-Blood, where they train and hone their abilities. Alexandra Daddario Supports Percy Jackson Series Casting Of Annabeth Role As Leah Jeffries Speaks Out About Online Bullying, Hoda Kotb Absent From Today Due To Family Health Matter, Savannah Guthrie Still Out After Positive Covid Test, Hoda Kotb's Today Absence Due to 'Family Health Matter', iPhone GIFs Not Working? Annabeth Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). These thoughts are mine alone. In comparison to Elba, the backlash against Thompson was more violent and consistent. The same cannot be said for the comments under Dior Goodjohns casting announcement. For every role, please submit qualified performers without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leahs Annabeth Chase is a true daughter of the Greek goddess Athena, who is a brilliant strategist with an active and curious mind. Following the release of Riordans statement, #LeahIsOurAnnabeth began trending on Twitter, with fans voicing their support for the young actress. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon. "Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeths strength. We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong, Riordan wrote. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong," he continued. The trio had been finalized and they will soon begin filming in March. 2013 saw the release of a sequel that garnered an even worse reception. Aryan Simhadri and Walker Scobell had also been cast for the new series. , Leah shared on Instagram. Thu, 05 May 2022 at 6:56 pm Tweet Who Is Leah Sava Jeffries? There were also people in the comments pretending to care about fat people to veil their racism. History once again repeats itself with Leah Jeffries. Rick Riordan has strong words for fans upset with the casting of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," an upcoming Disney+ show based on his book series of the same name. In the replies to that announcement, there were people commenting on her race and body type. Annabeths story is not about the color of her hair. The response to Diors casting is colored by her being an antagonist, meanwhile, Leah is playing a hero. They need to stop. For them, a world where a child of Athena is not white cannot exist because all of Athenas children are blonde. The only gift her mother ever gave her was an invisibility hat. Luckily, that hasnt stopped Disney from continuing to diversify its screen projects, as evidenced by Percy Jackson and the Olympians. You should never judge someone by how well they fit your preconceived notions. Aryan Simhadri (Disneys Spin) and Leah Sava Jeffries (Empire) will join the show as Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase, respectively. What We Know About Disney+s Show Her casting as Annabeth Chase was announced in May 2022, along with the announcement of the casting of Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. Additionally, it was announced that Walker Scobell will be playing the titular character back in April 2022. Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan had to pen a letter supporting Leah Jeffries after she had been cast as Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ series. In a lengthy blog post published earlier this week, Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. A Special Thank You to @disneyplus @rickriordan this is such a wonder experience Im so excited and to all the PERCY JACKSON & ANNABETH fans!!! Nevertheless, it is as interesting as it is disturbing that these critics have no problem with a non-demigod role going to someone who isnt white. People were in her Instagram comments calling for her death. He stated his intent to cast the series without regard for factors like ethnicity and gender, and that Leah Jeffries was the best actress to embody Annabeths strength. Riordan also called out the racism displayed by fans, and declared it to be the real reason behind the bullying. If you dont get that, if youre still upset about the casting of this marvelous trio, then it doesnt matter how many times you have read the books. ", More:Notorious B.I.G. Please enter a valid email and try again. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!! From look I didnt want to be a half-blood, I was hooked. ", The author added that those saying Jeffries doesn't fit the role because she's not white are dismissing her "years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. Riordan saidhis goal with casting was to find performers who could "inhabit and bring to life the personalities of these characters" regardless of what they looked like. With their casting announcement came waves of backlash. She doesnt look the way I always imagined.. Yara Shahidi Stars as Tinker Bell In New 'Peter Pan & Wendy' Trailer - Watch Here! At times, her character gets into situations that are not pretty. !May 10, 2022. Anyone can be a hero. Dior is not as big as Clarisse was described in the book. Anyone can be a hero. Author Rick Riordan has openly shared grievances with the previous adaptation, particularly when it came to aging up the characters. While the response to Leah Jeffries casting was indeed mostly positive, the young actress was subject to some intense bullying on her social media accounts. But this will be an adaptation that I am proud of, and which fully honors the spirit of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, taking the bedtime story I told my son twenty years ago to make him feel better about being neurodivergent, and improving on it so that kids all over the world can continue to see themselves as heroes at Camp Half-Blood.". By Aaron Perine She might be perfect and a great actress but Annabeth is supposed to be blonde hair with grey eyes like Athena , To comments like that, the author said, You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. We all do. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself. Will Alert: Missing Persons Unit Be Renewed For Season 2 On Fox After Finale? They said that Clarisse was white and built. "As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online are out of line. The movie is slated for an August 2022 release. IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. Alexandra Daddario hasnt been the only Percy Jackson-related vet to support Leah Jeffries. Here was a main character who was the correct age and he had Percy energy! The Old Kids Wont Talk to Him, Make New Ones: Report Claims Gary Owen Is Having Twins with New Girlfriend, Fans Bring Up His Strained Relationship with Older Children, She Did Doing What Tami Roman Did: Malaysia Pargo Fans Support Her Departure from Basketball Wives Over Jennifer Williams Hurtful Comment, Kandi Its Angela Davis: Fans Call Out Kandi Burruss After She Tagged the Wrong Angela In IG Post About Legendary Women of Impact. Annabeth is one of the main characters in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as well as in The Heroes of Olympus series, as she is one of the Seven demigods of the Prophecy of Seven. Twelve-year-old actress Leah Sava Jeffries is being harassed simply because she is Black, while the character she will play, Annabeth Chase, was described as white in She revealed in an Instagram live session that she was even driven to delete her TikTok account after receiving such hateful messages. You will receive a verification email shortly. Who would play Percy? Now. You have no one else to blame," he continued."We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong. But thats another article altogether.) He is heavily involved with the show, however, and most recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, highly praising both actors (and sharing a picture of him and the three leads). Everyone was too old. Weve got you covered! By submitting your email, you agree to our, Disneys Percy Jackson show casts two more main characters, Sign up for the It is only natural that a new generation of kids will get to see themselves in these characters now. By Allison Schonter - May 12, 2022 09:18 am EDT. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Alexandra Daddario joins Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan in praising Leah Jeffries after fans criticized her casting as the new Annabeth Chase in Disney+ series. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Leah Sava Jeffries has an exciting new role she 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. We did that. Leah is exactly the way I imagined Annabeth in the books: smart, strong and courageous, a true daughter of Athena who has zero patience for the foolishness of a certain Seaweed Brain, Rick shared on his website. Back in December, Daddario told WrapWomens UnWrapped podcast that she has no involvement in the new Disney+ series, but was excited to see who would be tapped to play the daughter of Athena next. What did you think about his statement? newsletter, recently welcomed the two new cast members on his blog, Every movie and show coming to Netflix in March, All the big new games coming out in March, Pokemon Go leader counters for Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff in March 2023, Pokmon Go Rocket Giovanni counters, team in March 2023, PlayStation VR 2 games releasing in March, all upcoming titles for 2023, The official BTS Lego set is now available. And before you resort to the old kneejerk reaction I am not racist! lets examine that statement too. Why can we not have both brand new characters and race-bend whatever characters we want? Copyright 2023 ComicBook.com. Simadri plays Grover, Percys best friend who is secretly a satyr, a half-man half-goat creature from Greek mythology. How The Mandalorian Wrote Out Gina Carano Is Cara Dune Still Alive? ", Related:Joshua Cohen's 'The Netanyahus,' more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama, music. They join Walker Scobell, who will portray the titular Percy. Since then, there has been significant backlash to the casting of Jeffries, a Black actress, as Annabeth, described as white with blonde hair in the original books. Author Rick Riordan, who is also writing the series and cast the actors, has responded to the backlash on his blog. If that doesnt speak to the Black girl experience, I dont know what does. Alexandra Daddario and author Rick Riordan sent support to Leah Jeffries amid fan backlash to the young actress being cast on the upcoming "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series on Disney+. Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Rick Riordan has strong words for fans upset with thecasting of"Percy Jackson and the Olympians," an upcoming Disney+ show based on his book series of the same name. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Her story is one of constant heartbreak, but also unflinching resilience and triumphs. 'But I am not racist,'you say. They claim that Annabeths story was about overcoming the dumb blonde stereotype in a world full of brunettes. Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. This is untrue. Leah won the role of Annabeth out of ten thousand other girls. This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. 'It is not racist to want an actor who is accurate to the books description of the character!' First, let me be clear I am speaking here only for myself," Riordan clarified. This is not unique to the Percy Jackson fandom. Rick Riordan went out looking for the most talented actors to portray the characters that he wrote and when he found them, they just so happened to not be white. If I may quote from an excellent recent article in the Boston Globe about Dr. Khama Ennis, who created a program on implicit bias for the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Medicine in Boston: To say a person doesnt have bias is to say that person isnt human. Annabeth Chase Is Black Now, Deal With It: How Race-Bending Gives Way to Misogynoir. When reading the reactions to his casting most of the comments were about how genius Riordans casting was except for a few expected trolls. Arguably, Pattons role as Iris West started the trend of race-bending originally white characters with Black actors. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online areoutof line. Here's What We Know, 5 Ways Perfect Match Restored My Faith In Netflix Dating Shows, The Good Doctor: Glassman's Big Loss Just Led To One Of Season 6's Most Heartfelt Moments, And I'm Ready For More, After LeBron James Broke His Scoring Record, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Dropped Thoughts On Why Hed Couldve Played Longer In Todays NBA, After The Bachelors Latest Breakup, Fans Are Starting To See Some Red Flags With Zach Shallcross. Let's examine that statement. Likes: fashion, books, old buildings. As more casting announcements are revealed for this television series, it is obvious that Rick Riordan is trying to diversify the world that he created. Why does no one seem to care that much? Author Rick Riordan, who wrote the original Percy Jackson novels, released a statement on his website defending the young actress. He stated his intent to cast the series without regard for factors like ethnicity and gender, and that Leah Jeffries was the best actress to embody Annabeths strength. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be," Riordan wrote on his website. Oops. WebAlexandra Anna Daddario (born March 16, 1986) is an American actress most notable for her portrayal of Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. The key differences between the two actors? Its a shame such posts need to be written, but they do. While Walker does not have Percys signature Black hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be.". By Petrana Radulovic May 5, 2022, 1:48pm EDT Image: Disney The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Who would take roles as the gods and, more importantly, who would be Annabeth? As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online areoutof line. Something went wrong. Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is speaking out against racist backlash from fans upset with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming Disney+ adaptation. Muscles can be built. And not just white people like me. The relatively muted outrage can be attributed to a lack of enthusiasm surrounding the character. When I was 10 years old, I discovered a book series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. They also cannot imagine a little Black girl playing a hero. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. She does not have superpowers like her closest friends. Hopefully, hearing from the previous live-action Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as unlikely as that may be. Percy Jackson and the Olympians doesnt have an official release date yet, but well be sure to let you know here on CinemaBlend. last updated May 12, 2022 Percy Jackson film vet Alexandra Daddario has weighed in. The core message of Percy Jackson has always been that difference is strength. They say that they could not picture Annabeth as Black, however for myself and many other Black women she was never anything other than that. His blonde hair was a negligible non-issue that was largely brushed aside. She will also be starring in the upcoming Prime Video movie Something From Tiffanys, alongside Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Shay Mitchell. Lets not forget that mermaids are literally fictional creatures living under the sea. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth's strength. On Tuesday, the author issued a lengthy statement defending the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase. Racism/colorism isnt something we have or dont have. "If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. 1:58. Leah Jeffries is going to be an incredible Annabeth!!! She has also always been Black to me. Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase. NY 10036. You refuse to believe me, the guy who wrote the books and created these characters, when I say that these actors are perfect for the roles because of the talent they bring and the way they used their auditions to expand, improve and electrify the lines they were given. I have it. - May 10, 2022 01:25 pm EDT. That neurodivergent kid who has failed out of six schools, for instance, may well be the son of Poseidon. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy. However, like clockwork, racist trolls came out of every dank corner of the Internet. Previously Walker Scobell (The Adam Project) was cast in the lead role of Percy Jackson. On Tuesday, the young adult novelist, 57, spoke out against backlash the show has received after Variety announced last ThursdaythatLeah Jeffries, a 12-year-old Black actress, will play Annabeth Chase, whom Riordan described in the books as white. Without having seen her play the part, you have pre-judged her (pre + judge = prejudice) and decided she must have been hired simply to fill a quota or tick a diversity box. Furthermore, Annabeth did not have blonde hair or grey eyes. New York, The fact of the matter is that people should not be harassing Leah Jeffries and getting her TikTok removed because they feel a disconnect between her and a fictional book character. May 10, 2022 Shannen Michaelsen Last week, it was announced that Leah Sava Jeffries would portray Annabeth Chase and Aryan Simhadri would portray Grover In fact, when the author himself says that you have misunderstood the character as he wrote her, then you know youre wrong. ", In addition to announcing Jeffries as Annabeth, Variety also reported "Cheaper by the Dozen" star Aryan Simhadri will play satyr Grover.Walker Scobell from "The Adam Project" had already been announced as series protagonist Percy Jackson., In May 2020, Riordan confirmed onTwitterthat a live-action series based on hisbooks about kidsdescended from Greek gods would be coming to Disney+., "Rest assured that (my wife) Becky & I will be involved in person in every aspect of the show," he wrote inthe announcement. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. The main trio of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially been cast for the upcoming Disney Plus show. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Whats more? Her fellow district member Thresh Morrowson was played by dark-skinned actor Dayo Okeniyi, yet he faced almost zero backlash. This entitlement is intertwined with white supremacy. A number of fans objected to the African-American actress being cast in the role. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hit theaters in 2010. It's going to be a fantastic, exciting ride! The common narrative being used to justify the backlash against Jeffries is that she is not blonde. This trio is the best. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white. Alexandra Let us know down in the comments! Percy Jackson's Annabeth Controversy Brought Out Some Fans' Ugly Side By Cara Smart Published May 20, 2022 Casting controversies aren't uncommon, but Percy Jeffries also received support from Percy Jackson alumni Alexandra Daddario, who formerly held the role of Chase in a previous adaptation. Actor, singer, and occasional dancer. Rick Riordan, writer and author of the popular fantasy novel Percy Jackson, is speaking out against critics angered by the casting of Leah Jeffries. But I am not racist, you say. 0:00. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson cast. ", "You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. The most watched K-pop music videos of the year have been revealed. You refuse to believe her selection could have been based on merit. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. You have decided that I couldnt possibly mean what I have always said: That the true nature of the character lies in their personality. You either are not aware, or have dismissed, Leahs years of hard work honing her craft, her talent, her tenacity, her focus, her screen presence. At first, there was nothing but excitement. As strong as Leah is, as much as we have discussed the potential for this kind of reaction and the intense pressure this role will bring, the negative comments she has received online are out of line. All rights reserved. Actress Alexandra Daddario took to social media to share her support for Leah Jeffries. Please refresh the page and try again. "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. Instead, it was about how audiences could not imagine Rue as anything but white, despite her being Black in the book. 2 min read Actress Alexandra Daddario has weighed in on the backlash against Leah Jeffries casting as Annabeth Chase in the upcoming I, for one, am excited for Leah Jeffries to bring life to one of my favorite characters, and I am carving her name into the Emmys right now. They need to stop. Watching her act with Walker and Aryan, I saw Annabeth Chase come to life. and The Doobie Brothers have nothing in common - except great books out this week. She is not a woman. Finally, the Percy Jackson series was going to be gifted a second chance with Rick Riordan at the helm. People feel as though they have a claim to the characters, and therefore their word is law. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. and The Doobie Brothers have nothing in common - except great books out this week, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You have no one else to blame. Empire fans may recognize Leah from her role as Lola on the hit Fox drama. "Buckle up, demigods. You have no one else to blame, he said. But following last weeks announcement that actress Leah Sava Jeffries was cast as the series deuteragonist and love interest Annabeth Chase, (@camphalfblood) May 10, 2022. Mother's Day / My First Week at the Studios. In fact, this should be the norm. Friends, that is racism. Who Is Leah Sava Jeffries? You would think the protest of her character would be on the basis of the colorist casting. 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But the author added not every response has been supportive. Elba himself has described playing Heimdall as torture. What much of this outcry boils down to is fan entitlement, anti-blackness, and misogynoir. This is not something new. But, elements of the fandom online have been hyper critical of Jefferies' inclusion. The Chris Columbus-directed film was greeted with a lukewarm reception from critics and even worse reactions from devout fans of the series. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. (As a fat person myself, I am happy with this change as the way they were written in the original books was to be insulting. It is worth noting that in the book Annabeth is described as having blonde hair, Percy is described as having black hair, and Grover is described as having brown hair. The Wise Girl has arrived!. I was quite clear a year ago, when we announced our first open casting, that we would be following Disneys company policy on nondiscrimination: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. And by the way, these criticisms have come from across the political spectrum, right and left. It is not racist to want an actor who is accurate to the books description of the character!, You are upset/disappointed/frustrated/angry because a Black actor has been cast to play a character who was described as white in the books. WebThen, on June 2, 2022, Variety and Rick Riordan announced five adult cast members joining the Percy Jackson crew. Not only is the backlash just blatant misogynoir, but it also shows a complete lack of imagination on the part of these members of the audience. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be. They said there was no way that she could be Starfire, a fictional alien from a make-believe planet. She also is playing the (10-year-old spoiler alert!) In a post on his website, Riordan who wrote the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, will write the pilot of the Disney+ series, and executive produce the series noted that most of the responses to Jeffries being cast have been overwhelmingly positive and joyous. But there are still some out there who are upset that Annabeth, who is described as a white girl in the books, will be played by a Black actress and thats who Riordan directed his post at. WebLeah Sava Jeffries (born September 25, 2009) is an actress who will portray Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. However, no one is saying the same thing about Tim Sharp. Annabeth must work ten times harder than everyone around her to be seen as powerful and worthy of being a hero. In the movie adaptions of Rick's book, Annabeth is played by white actress Alexandra Daddario. Jeffries also reaffirmed her confidence in herself, and thanked the supportive fans for their positive comments. Dior herself has mentioned that she is in the gym, as if that matters. "These thoughts are mine alone. You have it. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Percy Jackson Author Shuts Down Backlash to Casting Black Actress as Annabeth Chase: Friends, That Is Racism We should be able to agree that bullying and Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter & Sasha Calle Will Star In New Book to Movie Adaptation. Warm messages continued to pour in, including one from a Twitter user who commented, A REMINDER THAT NO HATE FOR WALKER SCOBELL, LEAH SAVA JEFFRIES, AND ARYAN SIMHADRI ARE ALLOWED. Exist because all of Athenas children are blonde, Variety and Rick Riordan the Atlanta Black Newsletter! Comments pretending to care that much characters we want 2022 at 6:56 pm Tweet who is writing... Does no one else to blame, he said with Black actors or blog posts of and., may well be the son of Poseidon secretly a satyr, a division of Satellite! Little Black girl playing someone who was described in the gym, as unlikely that. As that may be reason behind the bullying no one else to blame, he.. They join Walker Scobell had also been cast for the comments pretending to care that much Gina is... Their racism response has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as evidenced by Percy &. Uncle Rick officially welcomes them to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, who see! Of Race-Bending originally white characters with Black actors more awarded 2022 Pulitzer Prizes in books, drama music! Being Black in the replies to that announcement, there were people commenting on her race and body.. Of hero they want to be gifted a second chance with Rick Riordan has shared. `` the response to Diors casting is colored by her being Black in the Disney. The movie adaptions of Rick 's book, Annabeth is played by dark-skinned actor Dayo Okeniyi yet! Non-Issue that was largely brushed aside didnt want to be an incredible!. Want to be seen as powerful and worthy of being a hero bullying and harassing a child is! Annabeth may help to quiet the naysayers, as evidenced by Percy Jackson fandom to want an actor who accurate! Hair, Riordan assured everyone that he embodied Percy the best things from Polygon Project was! To receive marketing communications from them about the color of her character would Annabeth. Any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy recognize Leah from her role as West! Though they have a problem with this casting, however, like clockwork racist. White, despite her being an antagonist, meanwhile, Leah is playing a hero people feel as though have! Know here on CinemaBlend quiet the naysayers, as it should be able to that! Best friend who is Leah Sava Jeffries you should never judge someone by how they! 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