„In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry. I’m learning from the feedback, I thank you for raising it and listening,“ Lin-Manuel Miranda, the film’s creator, said.
„,“ the new film from creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Jon Chu, is facing criticism for not featuring dark-skinned Latinx actors in prominent roles. In a statement Monday, Miranda acknowledged the criticism and apologized to fans: „I’m seeing the discussion around Afro Latino representation in our film this weekend and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro Latino community don’t feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly the leading roles. I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback.“ Miranda also promised to do better in future projects and said he is dedicated to learning and evolving to honor the diversity of the Latinx community. „I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy,“ the statement added. „In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry. I’m learning from the feedback, I thank you for raising it and listening.“ The film, based on Miranda’s Tony Award-winning play, tells the story of a Latinx neighborhood and a summer blackout that changes its characters‘ lives forever. Written by Miranda in 1999, the show was meant to show Latina representation on the theater stage, something Miranda said he was sorely missing.
