‘One Piece’ Stars Slam Racist Backlash Over Season 2 Casting
One Piece’s cast is standing strong after racist backlash hit the news over the casting of Charithra Chandran as Vivi in season 2. The first full trailer for Netflix’s live-action One Piece season 2 just dropped, giving fans a glimpse of new characters like Vivi, Robin, Smoker, and Brogy.
While many fans were excited, not everyone reacted kindly. Some viewers criticized Chandran for not being light-skinned like Vivi or not being Egyptian to match Alabasta’s Egyptian-inspired setting.
The criticisms, however, quickly drew support from her co-stars. Rob Colleti, who plays Wapol in the series, spoke out on Instagram to defend Chandran. He explained that her casting makes perfect sense for the story. Alabasta is inspired by Egypt, but its architecture and cultural references also include elements from India. Chandran, being Indian, fits naturally into the role.
“Casting Charithra makes sense in-universe. Alabasta isn’t just one place—it has influences from multiple cultures, and her role as Vivi reflects that beautifully,” Colleti wrote.
He also pointed out that Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, personally approved Chandran’s casting, showing that the decision came with careful thought. “With Oda’s approval, she is absolutely the right choice for Vivi. There is no reason for this criticism other than blatant racism,” he added.
Chandran is set to play Nefertari Vivi, also known in the manga and anime as Miss Wednesday. In the original series, Vivi is depicted as a light-skinned Egyptian woman. Some fans have objected to Chandran’s darker skin, ignoring that One Piece is a fantastical world where humans can stretch, reindeer can talk, and fish can walk on land. These elements show that strict “canon” shouldn’t be a reason to attack casting choices.
Emily Rudd, who plays Nami, also shared her support for Chandran on Instagram. “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 wrote.
The cast’s defense highlights how inclusive the live-action adaptation is trying to be, respecting diversity while remaining true to the spirit of One Piece. Netflix has confirmed that season 2 of One Piece is scheduled to premiere in 2026, and with the cast speaking out, fans can expect a strong, united team behind the series.
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— ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official (@Eiichiro_Staff) August 10, 2025
実写版シーズン2 初出し映像公開
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シーズン3 制作決定
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