Titans‘ Starfire, Anna Diop, Is Not Having Your Cruel Comments Over a Leaked Photo

See, here’s the thing with leaked set photos. Sure you get a “glimpse” of what’s happening, but it’s completely without context. You’re essentially spoiling yourself with information you don’t actually know anything about. Recently, a photo leaked from the set of Titans featuring Anna Diop as Starfire. Naturally, the Internet had something to say, but Diop is not standing for cruelty and ignorance.

Whereas leaked set photos of Ryan Potter’s Beast Boy were focused on things that are specific to the character (no green skin?! no pointy ears?!), the comments that Diop and her co-star Teagan Croft (who plays Raven) received were gendered and personal, talking about their general appearance, their bodies, and other things that strangers have no business commenting on. In Diop’s case, the comments were also racist.

Because as we all know, even though Starfire is freaking orange in the comics, we all know that really means white, right? *sigh*

For those who can’t see Anna Diop’s Instagram post, she replied:

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.
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 💕

First of all, as Anna points out, we have no idea what the context of that photo is. We don’t know if that’s Starfire’s “costume” or not. We don’t know how they’re handling the Titans’ skin color. Perhaps the green tint for Beast Boy and an orange tint for Starfire will be added in later (saves on make-up!). Etc, etc. To comment on a photo you weren’t even supposed to be looking at in the first place is already not the smartest move.

But what’s more important than even that is the fact that making racist comments is unacceptable. Period. That’s not okay under any circumstances, least of all when you’re making them over a godddamn TV show. The same goes for sexist comments and unnecessarily personal comments. It’s only TV, people, and the Titans aren’t real.

Don’t forget that the actors playing them are actual people, and have real, human feelings, unlike the fictional characters far too many fight to defend at their expense.

(via Anna Diop on Instagram, image: DC Comics)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Teresa Jusino

Teresa Jusino (she/her) is a native New Yorker and a proud Puerto Rican, Jewish, bisexual woman with ADHD. She's been writing professionally since 2010 and was a former TMS assistant editor from 2015-18. Now, she's back as a contributing writer. When not writing about pop culture, she's writing screenplays and is the creator of your future favorite genre show. Teresa lives in L.A. with her brilliant wife. Her other great loves include: Star Trek, The Last of Us, anything by Brian K. Vaughan, and her Level 5 android Paladin named Lal.

youtube