Gina Rodriguez is loved on CW’s “Jane The Virgin” telenovela. But, it may serve her best to keep her comments on racial issues to herself for a while because she has gotten herself in a whirlwind of backlash after comments she has made on various outlets. Now, in an attempt to clear the air, Rodriguez visited SwayInTheMorning on a press tour for her new movie and ended up crying as she explained how hurt she was to be deemed “anti-black” by the black community.
In July 2017, Rodriguez tweeted that Marvel and DC were doing well with inclusion for women but asked where the Latinos were. It didn’t take long for #BlackTwitter to correct Rodriguez and educate her on the fact that Tessa Thompson, Zoe Saldana and Rosario Dawson are all Latino…Afro-Latino. Then, in a 2018 junket interview with Yara Shahidi, Rodriguez interjected as the interviewer stated how Shahidi is a role model for black women, noting she is a role model for ALL women.
In a recent interview with fellow actresses #EllenPompao, #GabrielleUnion and #EmmaRoberts, Rodriguez stated, “White women get paid more than black women, and black women get paid more than Asian women, Asian women get paid more than Latina women, and it’s like a very scary space to step into.” Her statement was quickly debunked, once again, when Black Twitter had to remind her that the highest paid actress, Sophia Vergara, is indeed Latina, adding that the only black woman on the list was #KerryWashington, who ranked 8th.
During her appearance on Sway’s radio show, Rodriguez addressed the criticism she had been receiving since her comments. “The backlash was devastating, to say the least, because…,” she began before breaking out in tears. She continued, “The black community was the only community I looked toward growing up. We didn’t have many Latino shows, and the black community made me feel like I was seen. So, to get ‘anti-black’ is saying that I’m ‘anti-family.’”
She then went on to say her father is dark-skinned and Afro-Latino, which was met with immediate skepticism among Black Twitter AGAIN, as photos surfaced of Rodriguez and her not so dark-skinned father. She also pointed out that white and Asian people weren’t upset about her comments and noted that she provides opportunities for Latino and black workers through her production company.
Has Gina Rodriguez said enough or too much? Speak on it!
