Netflix’s ONE PIECE Cast Rallies Around Charithra Chandran Amid Vivi Casting Backlash
The cast of Netflix’s One Piece is standing strong behind Charithra Chandran after she faced a wave of racist comments following the release of the first teaser for Season 2.
Chandran will make her debut as Nefertari Vivi, also known as Miss Wednesday, in the upcoming season, but the excitement over her casting has been overshadowed by hateful online comments.
Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, took to Instagram to condemn the harassment.
“Perceived ‘canon’ does not excuse blatant racism or hate of any kind. I am beyond proud of our show, our cast, and the opportunity we have to bring to life a story centered around a diverse found family – by an equally diverse found family.”
Rudd, along with Jacob Romero, Sophia Anne Caruso, and Camrus Johnson, also reposted a powerful statement from Rob Colletti, the actor stepping into the role of Wapol.
“It is astonishing to me in all the wrong ways how certain small (but far too vocal) corners of the One Piece fandom can watch a rubber pirate, a reindeer doctor, and giant walking, talking fish and be totally fine... but draw the line at the simple IDEA of a Nefertari Vivi being played by a woman who isn't white.”
He went on to stress that Chandran was chosen by series creator Eiichiro Oda himself.
“Charithra was hand-selected by Oda, and he has far more knowledge and understanding of his own characters than anyone else, particularly the hateful, unimaginative creeps who actually have the audacity to get on the internet to throw hate speech towards an actor without even seeing their absolutely amazing performance on the show.”
He went on to call the backlash “ridiculous” and also pointed out that Vivi’s heritage has always been rooted in Middle Eastern and South Asian influences.
“Let’s talk facts: Nefertari is Egyptian. Where is Egypt? The Middle East. The Kingdom of Alabasta draws heavily from Middle Eastern and Southern Asian culture. And you’re complaining because the actor chosen to play the role... isn’t white?!”
He explained that casting Chandran is not changing the character, but “actually honoring Oda’s intended vision.”
While some fans have criticized the racist reactions outright, others have used the moment to express disappointment over the lack of a Middle Eastern and North African actor in the role.
Rudd addressed this on Twitter: “Sharing these sentiments is not intended to negate the valid discourse of MENA representation (and/or lack thereof) in Hollywood. It’s important to hold studios and networks accountable and ensure representation for all.”
She followed up with another post making her stance clear. “The intention is to flag that hatred directed toward a specific person for simply doing a job (and job well done at that) is unacceptable.”
One Piece Season 2 is expected to drop in early 2026, bringing fans back to the Grand Line with new allies, enemies, and adventures. I loved the first season of this series and I’m very excited for Season 2! People just need to chill out.
Every casting decision for this show has been great, so I’m excited to see how Chandran brings her character to life!