House of the Dragon star Steve Toussaint is looking out racist viewers who appear to have an issue along with his casting within the Game of Thrones prequel sequence.
Toussaint, 57, responded to the criticism in an interview with Men’s Health, following the racist social media backlash of a Black man being forged as Lord Corlys Velaryon or “The Sea Snake” within the HBO interval drama.
“It appears to be very arduous for folks to swallow,” the actor said through the interview, which was printed on Monday, August 22. “They’re pleased with a dragon flying. They’re pleased with white hair and violet-colored eyes, however a wealthy Black man? That is past the pale.”
In keeping with Variety, Lord Corlys isn’t explicitly described as white in George R. R. Martin’s Hearth and Blood, which the prequel sequence relies off of. Nevertheless, as a result of his ancestors are Valyrian and his hair is described within the books as “Targaryen white-blonde,” some anticipated him to be performed by a white actor.
Toussaint—who is understood for his different roles in The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Flight of Fury—beforehand addressed the significance of casting various actors in interval items regardless of the social media backlash he acquired.
“Illustration is vital,” he beforehand said, based on the Toronto Star. “After I was a child, and we might watch fantasy movies or science fiction movies, there have been no folks of coloration in them. I imply, my associates would chortle…However the severe facet of it’s that you do not really feel such as you’re a part of the world. You do not really feel such as you matter.”
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Toussaint additionally recalled filming House of the Dragon, noting that “a number of the supporting artists would come as much as me afterwards and be like, ‘It is so good to see you up on that stage. It is vital for us and it is vital for youngsters who’re of coloration or combined race to see this.'”
In response to the racist critics particularly, Toussaint stated, “Historical past is shifting in a specific means. I believe these individuals are on the incorrect facet of it.”
He added, “I can not waste an excessive amount of time on some keyboard warrior in his mother’s bed room, you recognize, spouting out insults to me or whoever else.”
Home of the Dragon premiered on Sunday, Aug. 21, drawing practically 10 million viewers and turning into the largest sequence premiere in HBO historical past.
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