Tom Holland’s Romeo and Juliet Casting Controversy Explained

The Internet has not been silent given that Francesca Amewudah-Rivers was cast together with Tom Holland in an impending London output of Romeo & Juliet.

Amewudah-Rivers was announced as the show’s Juliet in March, a person month following it was disclosed Holland, 27, was likely to be starring in the William Shakespeare enjoy. Considering that incorporating Amewudah-Rivers to the forged, plenty of vitriolic responses about the actress’ look and race have been created on the web.

Trolls took to Amewudah-Rivers’ Instagram page to antagonize her. The bullying toward the Black actress was so negative that the formal Romeo & Juliet Instagram web page has turned off feedback. On Friday, April 5, director Jamie Lloyd’s output firm introduced a statement seemingly contacting out the social media trolls for their harsh terms against Amewudah-Rivers.

“Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet forged, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed in direction of a member of our organization. This will have to prevent,” the Instagram assertion go through. “We are performing with a remarkable team of artists. We insist that they are absolutely free to build function without dealing with on the web harassment.”

The manufacturing company vowed that they have been heading to “continue to aid and protect” the overall solid and crew whilst noting they had a zero-tolerance plan for abuse.

“Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal home is comprehensive of joy, compassion, and kindness,” the concept continued. “We rejoice the incredible talent of our amazing collaborators. The Romeo & Juliet neighborhood will continue to rehearse with generosity and appreciate, and concentrate on the generation of our generation.”

Holland, who is in a extensive term romance with Zendaya, has nevertheless to converse out publicly about the controversy bordering the actress portraying his appreciate curiosity. This output is Holland’s very first return return to the West Close since he starred in Billy Elliot as a youngster. Pursuing his West Conclusion debut, Holland went on to portray Spider-Guy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Before Romeo & Juliet, Amewudah-Rivers starred in expert productions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello. Her position as Juliet will be her West End debut. She also had a recurring purpose on the British Television collection Negative Education and learning and performs as a composer for numerous display assignments.

In addition to Holland and Amewudah-Rivers, the engage in also stars Freema Agyeman, Michael Balogun, Tomiwa Edun, Mia Jerome, Daniel Quinn-Toye and Ray Sesay. Romeo & Juliet is now in rehearsals and is established to operate at the Duke of York’s Theatre from Might 11 via August 3. Tickets for its 12-week operate are by now marketed out.

In spite of the on line backlash, rumors swirled that adhering to its operate in London the enjoy will transfer to Broadway.