Riverdale star Vanessa Morgan speaks out: ‘I’m the only black series regular but paid the least’
Actor received support from a number of her co-stars as she spoke about her experiences in Hollywood
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Riverdale star Vanessa Morgan has shared number of tweets that condemn the way black people are portrayed in the media.
In the social media posts, which were made across this week, she pointed out that she is “the only black series regular but also paid the least” out of her Riverdale co-stars.
“Tired of how black people are portrayed in Media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry scary people,” she wrote.
“Tired of us also being used as sidekick non-dimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show. It starts with the media. I’m not being quite anymore.”
“I’m not being quiet anymore,” she added, using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
The actor later responded to a fan who suggested her paycheck be doubled because she also portrays an LGBT+ character.
“Lmao too bad I’m the only black series regular but also paid the least girl i could go on for days,” she said.
Morgan also urged her fans not to “attack” her fellow cast members because “I know they have my back” and “they don’t write the show”.
“My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends. They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them,” she said.
She recently tweeted: "To my black fans, I have now made it my purpose to fight for us. To the six-year-old me who had no role model that looked like me on TV. This is for you. We aren’t your token black non-dimensional characters. This is being black in Hollywood. I will fight for YOU.”
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Asha Bromfield, who previously played Josie and the Pussycats member Melody Jones on the hit show, commented: “Don't even get me started with how Riverdale treated the Pussycats. We had so much more to contribute than standing in the background and adding sass to a storyline. I stand with you @VanessaMorgan.”
Morgan’s co-star Lili Reinhart responded to Morgan and wrote: “We love you, V. And support you 10,000 per cent.”
The actor’s tweets were published amid protests across the US and around the world over systematic racism and police brutality, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.