Hamilton: Criticism of Disney+ musical is ‘valid’, Lin-Manuel Miranda says

Show has been accused of whitewashing history of US founding fathers

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has admitted that criticism of his musical is “valid”.

Based on the lives of the founding fathers, the hip-hop musical has been met with accusations of whitewashing historical figures since arriving on Disney+, in particular in relation to the US founding fathers and their ownership of slaves.

One Twitter user pointed out that the criticisms show how much the world had moved on since the musical was first released in 2015, adding that “our willingness to interrogate things in this way feels like a clear sign of change”, with the musical’s creator responding in agreement.

“All the criticisms are valid,” Miranda replied. “The sheer tonnage of complexities & failings of these people I couldn’t get. Or wrestled with but cut.”

He continued: “I took 6 years and fit as much as I could in a 2.5 hour musical. Did my best. It’s all fair game.”

Disney+’s version of Hamilton was released on Friday (3 July), having been recorded across three performances with the original Broadway cast in 2016.

Watching the hip-hop musical along with his fans, Miranda, who stars in Hamilton as well as writing it, revealed the part that makes him the most emotional, tweeting: “The line that breaks me the most: Angelica: ‘Near you.’ Forever.”