Vanessa Morgan is speaking out about racial inequality in Hollywood and she’s taking direct aim at her own series with “Riverdale” on the CW…
“Riverdale” star Vanessa Morgan isn’t staying quiet anymore.
The actress who plays Toni Topaz on the popular CW series took aim at the racial inequality throughout Hollywood while also pointing the finger directly at “Riverdale” for how black characters are used on the series not to mention her role in particular.
Morgan took to Twitter this week to express her frustration regarding how black actors are used in films and television series including “Riverdale” where she is the only black series regular.
“I’m not being quiet anymore,” Morgan wrote on Twitter along with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag. “Tired of how black people are portrayed in Media, tired of us being portrayed as thugs, dangerous or angry, scary people.
“Tired of us also being used as sidekick, non-dimensional characters to our white leads. Or only used in the ads for diversity but not actually in the show.
It starts with the media. I’m not being quiet anymore.”
I’m not being Quite anymore. ✊???? #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JXgJic4mrR
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) May 31, 2020
Morgan joined “Riverdale” back in season 2 and became a series regular in season 3. While she’s been a mainstay on the show, her character Toni Topaz has largely taken a backseat to the leads — Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead.
While responding to some of the messages on her post, Morgan also took aim at “Riverdale” for portraying her character as a “token bisexual” while adding “I’m the only black series regular but also paid the least.”
But exactly, used as the token biracial bisexual
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
Lmao too bad I’m the only black series regular but also paid the least ???????????? girl i could go on for days ????
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
As of yet, neither Warner Bros. nor the CW have issued any kind of statement in response to Morgan’s comments.
She did add one more message to her thread while standing up for her co-stars, who aren’t responsible for the storylines or portrayals of the characters on the show.
“My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends,” Morgan said. “They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them, they don’t call the shots & I know they have my back.”
My role on Riverdale has nothing to do with my fellow castmates/friends. They don’t write the show. So no need to attack them, they don’t call the shots & I know they have my back. ♥️
— Vanessa Morgan (@VanessaMorgan) June 2, 2020
“Riverdale” is currently on hiatus after their fourth season was cut short due to production shutdowns as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Season 5 is expected to go into production in Vancouver later this year with the series returning to the CW in early 2021.
