Anna Diop Addresses Set Photos from TITANS and Hate Speech that Followed
Many fans were disappointed when some set photos surfaced from the upcoming DC show Titans. I am one of them. Starfire’s costume looked cheap and terrible. Beast Boy’s costume looked fine, but he was missing the beast part of him, although I’m guessing that will be done with CG or the pictures were taken before makeup. We fans aren’t the only ones disappointed though. Anna Diop is the actress portraying Starfire and she recently took to Instagram to talk about the set photos.
“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.”
I already addressed this in an article, but DC, you need to get your act together. Get us official pictures before these set photos can appear online and create disinterest for fans. There are legitimate reasons to not like what we saw in the set photos (read my comments above) and it is ok. For those unswayed by these photos, more power to you. However, something that is not ok is the amount of hate speech that can be and is produced based on these photos. Diop includes a message on her post regarding those that responded to the photos with hate speech:
“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 💕”
Guys, it is ok to not like something. It is ok to disagree. I know many of you are already furiously typing something about Social Justice Warriors or how actresses shouldn’t say stuff like this. Let us be civil in our discussions about these things though. We are all geeks. We don’t always agree on who the best choices for roles are, but that doesn’t mean we have to yell at each other. We don’t have to tear others down to voice our opinions.
