Whoopi Goldberg has blasted fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon who have been targeting actors in the casts with racist vitriol, telling them to ‘get a job’.
Since the launch of both of the prequel series, fans of JRR Tolkein and George RR Martin’s respective worlds have been lapping up the spectacles, which are both awash with fantastical creatures and epic cinematography.
However, some trolls online have bafflingly criticised the inclusion of Black actors in the casts, with House of the Dragon actor Steve Toussaint, who plays the powerful Lord Corlys Velaryon, calling out the racist abuse he has suffered.
During a recent appearance on US talk show the View, Star Trek actor Whoopi addressed the racist trolling, beginning by pointing out that both programmes are set in fictional worlds.
‘I want to start by saying, these are not real, ok? The new Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, and Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, are both massive hits, but they don’t exist in the real world. There are no dragons, there are no hobbits, you know that,’ she said.
‘And there are critics who are saying they were too woke by adding diverse characters. Are you telling me Black people can’t be fake people too? Is that what you’re telling me?’
The audience in the studio clapped enthusiastically as Whoopi continued, questioning if ‘there’ll be protests’ from fans as the 66-year-old added: ‘What is wrong with y’all?’
Fellow The View presenter Sunny Hostin expressed her appreciation for Steve’s character in House of the Dragon, before joining her co-star in calling out the ridiculous criticism.
‘What I think is fascinating is dragons are ok, fire-breathing dragons, and people with white hair that are born like that when they’re little, and violet eyes, but the Black people in it is just a bridge too far for these folks,’ she stated with bemusement.
‘Y’all are going to lose your minds when you see the new Ariel,’ Whoopi chimed in, referencing the casting of Halle Bailey in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
She added later: ‘All of y’all who have problems because there are Black hobbits… Get a job! Get a job! Go find yourself, because you are focused on the wrong stuff.’
Speaking about the racism he’s experienced online about his casting, Steve recently told Radio Times: ‘I kind of thought, “Oh, I get it, when we were criminals and pirates and slaves in the other show, you were OK with that.
‘But as this guy is the richest [character] in the show and he’s a nobleman, now you have a problem with it.” In House of the Dragon [our colour] is just a given – I quite like that.’
Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays a Silvan Elf called Arondir in Rings of Power and was the first person of colour to play an elf in the franchise, has received ‘pure and vicious hate speech’ for the past couple of years following his casting.
‘I fought so hard for this role for this very reason,’ he told Esquire.
‘I felt that I could carry that torch. I made sure that my elf was the most Elven, the most incredible, because I knew this was coming.’
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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