Tuesday 10 May 2022 09:11 PM Percy Jackson author SLAMS fans furious over casting of 12-year-old Black ... trends now
Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan put 'racist' trolls on blast in a scathing statement following the online harassment of 12-year-old Leah Jeffries, a Black actress, who was recently cast in the TV adaptation of the fantasy series.
In a post shared to his website Tuesday, Riordan slammed a subset of fans upset that the role of Annabeth, which is 'described as white in the books,' will be played by a young Black girl. 'Friends, that is racism,' he wrote.
The 57-year-old expressed his sadness that he even had to defend the casting and said in no uncertain terms that the role went to the best actress for the part, adding: 'We should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong.'
'That is racism': Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan put 'racist' trolls on blast in a scathing statement following the online harassment of 12-year-old Leah Jeffries, a Black actress, who was recently cast in the TV adaptation of the fantasy series (Riordan, left; Jeffries, right)
'This post is specifically for those who have a problem with the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase,' Riordan penned.
Last week Disney+ rounded out the cast of the upcoming series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, announcing Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri as Annabeth and Grover.
'The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. 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,' he continued.
'If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me. You have no one else to blame. Whatever else you take from this post, we should be able to agree that bullying and harassing a child online is inexcusably wrong,' the author wrote.
In a post shared to his website Tuesday, Riordan slammed a subset of fans upset that the role of Annabeth, which is 'described as white in the books,' will be played by a young Black girl. 'Friends, that is racism.'
The Annabeth character is 'described as white in the books' and was played by white actress Alexandra Daddario in the film series but to cast the television adaptation, Riordan explained that the team employed 'Disney's company policy on nondiscrimination.'
This meant that the casting department sought '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.'
Riordan, who was heavily involved in the process, called it 'long, intense, massive and exhaustive' but worth it because it led to finding the 'best of the best.'
'Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase,' he
