Kerry Washington Was Re-Cast *Twice* for Not Being "Hood" Enough
Nope, nope, nope.
It's no secret that racism is a huge problem in Hollywood. Remember the hot mess that was last year's Academy Award nominations? But on top of women of color being passed over for roles, marginalized actresses have to deal with being stereotyped for the parts they do get.
Kerry Washington recently revealed that she was re-cast for not one, but two roles after being told she wasn't "hood" enough, which is so overtly racist our brains can barely cope.
"Before Scandal, I was actually cast in two other pilots," she told comedian Aziz Ansari during Variety Studio: Actors on Actors. "Both went to series, but I was fired and recast. For both, it was because they wanted me to sound more 'girlfriend,' more like 'hood,' more 'urban.'"
Literally no words for how appalling this is, but—depressingly—the story also rings true for Aziz, who said "you go into an audition room and you see a bunch of people that look like you and you just start feeling like, 'Oh, I'm not here [for me], I'm here because I fit what looks like the person they want in here."
The internet has a tendency to get passionate about a topic and then let it fall by the wayside, but instead of waiting until next year's inevitable Oscar fail to talk about Hollywood diversity, let's make our voices heard now. Women (and men) of color should not be dealing with this crap in 2016.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
With the Mystery of the Morgan House Solved, Will 'No Good Deed' Return for Season 2? Here's What We Know
The dark comedy could be Netflix's latest hit to get the anthology treatment.
By Radhika Menon Published
-
Prince William Reveals the One Embarrassing Christmas Tradition He's Totally Against
"Some people don't even own one."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
These Are a New Yorker's Favorite On-Sale Winter Jacket Styles
18 under-$300 finds that will make your outfit.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Introduce the "Newest Member" of Their Family
"I'm crazy about her and excited to share life."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Jennifer Garner Is Reportedly Ready to Cut Ties With Jennifer Lopez, Unless Their Kids Are Involved
"Her friends feel she shouldn't have allowed herself to get so involved."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Hailey Bieber Shares Her First Photo of Baby Son Jack Blues Since Giving Birth—See the Sweet Shot
So freaking cute.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Actors Who Are Nothing Like Their Most Iconic Characters
Talk about awards-worthy, transformative performances.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The Question on Everyone's Lips: Did Beyoncé Skip the 2024 MTV VMAs?
It's been a few years since she last graced the carpet with her presence.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Why Isn't Selena Gomez at the 2024 VMAs?
Her absence became even more noticeable after her bestie Taylor Swift showed up.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Jennifer Lopez Thought Ben Affleck Was a "Changed Man" But Being Married to Him Was "Impossible"
"Friends think he is selfish, sullen, impossible to please most of the time and negative."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published