Racist trolls drive actress Anna Diop to disable Instagram comments

Jul 26, 2018

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Racists have forced actress Anna Diop to disable her Instagram comments after spewing hateful vitriol because she was cast in Titans as superhero Starfire.

—Rosa Parks’ Detroit home and letter to MLK up for auction—

Fans had mixed reactions to Diop’s casting in the DC Universe live-action series and a large and vocal group of fans hurled derogatory and nasty remarks about the re-envisioning of the orange alien hero as a Black woman.

During San Diego’s Comic-Con last week, fans got a first look at the character and since then, Diop’s mentions have been in littered with racist comments. As a result, Diop was forced to disable comments on every post except for one post about her role in the upcoming Jordan Peele flick Us.

This is the second time, Anna Diop has had to defend her spirit and her role. When pictures were first posted in April, she got hammered with intolerable messages and wrote a lengthy (and since-deleted) Instagram post:

“To the ‘Titans’ fans:

Yesterday a photo of me on set leaked online. And it was unfortunate because fans have been waiting MONTHS for a photo of ‘Starfire’ and a sloppy photo of me on a curb in 15 degree weather is what they got instead. For the sake of our incredible fans – I hated that this is the first picture people are seeing. It’s out of context and it’s a misrepresentation of the incredible character I get to play. And also a misrepresentation of the phenomenal production behind it all.

With that said – the hate speech that followed was deplorable. And though I am highly unbothered. I do want to use this as an opportunity to say that tearing people down is not something that I tolerate. For myself or anyone else. Too often social media is abused by some who find refuge in the anonymity and detachment it provides: misused as a tool to harass, abuse, and spew hatred at others. This is weak, sad, and a direct reflection of the abuser.

Racist, derogatory, and/or cruel comments have nothing to do with the person on the receiving end of that abuse. And because I know this – I’m unfazed. But for anyone out there who may not – I am here to remind you that whatever ugly and negative thing anyone ever chooses to say about you is always a reflection and revelation of themselves- it does NOT define you, and it certainly does NOT make you any less perfect than you are – Be you! Stay beautiful! Live breezy. As always,

Much love”

Thankfully there are fans rallying to support Anna Diop using the hashtag #IStandwithDiop:

only the best for the FIRST and ONLY live action starfire !! #IStandByAnnaDiop pic.twitter.com/xceYLDyCgi

— ace ♡ (@J0NKENT) July 23, 2018

anna diop is a beautiful and talented woman who deserves all the love and respect. we can’t wait to see this duo together in @DCUTitans! · #IStandByAnnaDiop ?? pic.twitter.com/dGyds1h8Lk

— best of conor (@badpostleslie) July 24, 2018

.@TheAnnaDiop is an amazing Starfire and deserves nothing but love #IStandByAnnaDiop pic.twitter.com/DrYqW5C9B9

— best of titans (@bestoftitan) July 24, 2018

#IStandByAnnaDiop and can’t wait to watch her absolute kill it as Starfire. I’m excited to watch her bring all of Kory’s stories to life. ?? @DCUTitans LOOK at Anna giving us Kory modeling for Donna vibes ??. pic.twitter.com/ZLXVGkrqi7

— brianna. (@notevenloaded) July 23, 2018

Hold your head up sis.

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