‘Romeo and Juliet’ actor Francesca Amedwudah-Rivers flooded with support following ‘deplorable racial abuse’ | indy100

Related video: Tom Holland to star in West End's Romeo and Juliet

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Stars of the stage have thrown their support behind Bad Education actor Francesca Amedwudah-Rivers this week, after the artist and composer received racist abuse online when she was announced to play Juliet in a production of Romeo and Juliet alongside Spider-Man actor Tom Holland.

News of Amedwudah-Rivers’ casting was announced in late March, alongside details of the rest of the company, which includes Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman and Heartstopper’s Nina Taleghani.

They’ll all be directed by Jamie Lloyd, a theatremaker who’s previously worked with James McAvoy in Cyrano de Bergerac, Emilia Clarke in The Seagull, and most recently with Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Boulevard, which finished performances at London’s Savoy Theatre in January and will transfer to Broadway from September.

Lloyd’s upcoming production has been branded a “pulsating new vision of Shakespeare’s immortal tale of wordsmiths, rhymers, lovers and fighters”.

And there’s been immense interest in the show this week, as tickets went on sale on Wednesday and have now sold out.

Except just one day later, producers had to issue a statement on social media addressing some hateful reactions to Amedwudah-Rivers’ casting.

Condemning what they described as “a barrage of deplorable racial abuse”, the Jamie Lloyd Company said the comments directed towards the cast member “must stop”.

They said: “We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.

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“We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs. Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported.

“Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.

“The Romeo and Juliet community will continue to rehearse with generosity and love, and focus on the creation of our production.”

People on X, formerly Twitter also condemned the racist abuse Amedwudah-Rivers has been receiving and sent supportive messages to the actor.

You see why representation matters. We can\u2019t be 2024 and people be upset that a Black woman is playing a fictional role in a Shakespeare play that has had\u2026 check notes\u2026 RETOLD since it was written in 1590. \n\nDo you know how many versions have been performed in film and theatre?
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The first Black professional actor on a British stage whose name we know was a Black woman, Rachael Baptiste, who played Juliet in the eighteenth century. All power to @JamieLloydCo and their leading lady, Francesca Amewaduh-Rivers. She joins a proud, long tradition.
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Shite they had to do it in the first place but love this no bollocks statement. No meek wavering just straight fk off.
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\u2018The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do\u2019 \u2014 Toni Morrison
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To have to make a statement like this in 2024 is a dreadful comment on where we are right now. I wish this show the most massive success.
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For all the gaslighters who say \u2018it\u2019s not that bad now\u2019 or \u2018Britain isn\u2019t racist\u2019 or \u2018black people get all the jobs\u2019 or any other nonsense- the struggle & the fight remains, is real. To accept a career defining gig & know you\u2019ll likely receive racist ABUSE for it, is abhorrent.
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\ud83d\udce3\ud83d\udce3\ud83d\udce3 The Francesca Amewudah-Rivers Supremacy will continue to reign, there is an ARMY behind our girl. Joy will not be stolen. Black folks, allies let's ensure we protect her as her star ascends. \ud83c\udf1f
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I've had the pleasure of working with Fran for the last couple of years and she's a dream. Some of the things I've read are disgusting. It breaks my heart. Unfortunately, too many of us know this feeling all too well. I'm sure she'll shine and rise above. My Juliet. Period!! \ud83e\udd1d\ud83c\udffe
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This is a good statement and backed by not allowing comments where inevitably abuse will gather. Organisations, tuck this one into your case study folder.
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MY JULIET!! \n\nFRANCESCA AMEWUDAH-RIVERS IS HER NAME!!
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I'm not gonna share those disgusting racist tweets, but I'm gonna state that Francesca is a gorgeous human being - both inside and out. I can't wait to see her in @JamieLloydCo 's Romeo & Juliet and fucking eat it up it like I know she can. The people that know, KNOW.
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Romeo and Juliet begins performances at the Duke of York’s Theatre on the West End next month, running for 12 weeks only.

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