London, England – Prominent Black actors have come together to support Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who recently faced online abuse after being cast as Juliet in a West End theatre production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet.” The Jamie Lloyd Company announced the casting last month, with Tom Holland set to play Romeo in the production opening on May 23 at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
Over 880 people, including well-known Black actresses like Lashana Lynch and Susan Wokoma, have signed an open letter decrying the abuse directed at Amewudah-Rivers. Organized by Wokoma and writer Somalia Nonyé Seaton, the letter highlights the disturbing trend of Black performers, especially Black actresses, facing online abuse for simply getting a job on the merit of their talent.
The letter condemns the racist and misogynistic attacks against Amewudah-Rivers, noting that the abuse she has endured is unacceptable. It calls out theatre companies, broadcasters, producers, and streamers for failing to offer adequate support to Black artists facing such abuse, shifting the burden of reporting and promotion onto the victims themselves.
In response to the racial abuse, the Jamie Lloyd Company released a statement emphasizing the need to stop online harassment and create a safe environment for artists to work without fear of facing such attacks. Amewudah-Rivers, known for her work in the BBC series “Bad Education” and stage productions at venues like the Globe and Lyric Hammersmith, is represented by Curtis Brown.
The wave of support for Amewudah-Rivers from her peers in the industry sends a clear message that Black women performers facing abuse are seen and supported. The letter calls attention to the additional struggles these artists face due to the intersection of racism and misogyny, known as misogynoir, and calls for a concerted effort to address and combat such destructive behaviors within the entertainment industry.