African-American Actresses Who Faced Intense Social Media Backlash

Social media has fundamentally changed how audiences interact with celebrities and respond to casting announcements in the entertainment industry. African-American actresses often face a disproportionate amount of scrutiny and hostility on these platforms regarding their professional roles and personal lives. This online behavior ranges from debates over casting decisions in beloved franchises to intense criticism of their public conduct. The following individuals have navigated significant waves of negative attention while maintaining their careers in the spotlight.

Halle Bailey

The announcement that this actress would portray Ariel in the live-action adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ sparked an immediate global conversation. Hashtags trended on Twitter as detractors argued that the fictional mermaid should resemble the animated character from the 1989 film. Bailey faced months of racist commentary and disparaging memes across Instagram and TikTok leading up to the premiere. She maintained her composure throughout the press tour and focused on the positive impact her casting had on young Black girls.

Moses Ingram

Ingram accepted a pivotal role as Reva Sevander in the ‘Star Wars’ series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and immediately became a target for internet trolls. She received hundreds of racist direct messages on Instagram that threatened her safety and questioned her place in the franchise. The studio and co-star Ewan McGregor publicly defended her against the hateful rhetoric. This incident highlighted the ongoing struggles actors of color face when entering established science fiction universes.

Leah Sava Jeffries

Rick Riordan personally selected Jeffries to play Annabeth Chase in the television adaptation of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. Fans of the book series took to social media to complain that she did not match the physical description of the character in the novels. The young actress received a ban on her TikTok account after mass reporting from trolls who opposed her casting. Riordan issued a strong statement condemning the bullying and affirming his choice based on her talent.

Leslie Jones

The release of the 2016 reboot of ‘Ghostbusters’ resulted in one of the most severe harassment campaigns in Twitter history. Jones received thousands of racially charged insults and hateful images from users who were angry about the all-female cast. The abuse became so overwhelming that she temporarily left the platform to protect her mental health. This event eventually led to permanent bans for several high-profile instigators of the harassment.

Amandla Stenberg

Stenberg has faced consistent backlash throughout her career starting with her role as Rue in ‘The Hunger Games’. She recently dealt with a fresh wave of hostility following her leading role in the ‘Star Wars’ series ‘The Acolyte’. Detractors criticized the show for its perceived political messaging and focused their anger on her performance and public statements. The series was cancelled after one season which emboldened her critics on social media platforms.

Candice Patton

Patton endured nearly a decade of online abuse after being cast as Iris West in the superhero series ‘The Flash’. Comic book purists used Twitter and Instagram to attack the decision to change the character’s race from the source material. She spoke out years later about the lack of support she felt from the studio during the height of the harassment. Her experience shed light on the isolation many actors feel when breaking barriers in long-running comic book shows.

Jada Pinkett Smith

The host of ‘Red Table Talk’ frequently trends on social media due to revelations about her marriage to Will Smith. Viewers often criticize her for oversharing private details and embarrassing her husband publicly during her interviews. The backlash intensified significantly following the 2022 Academy Awards incident involving her husband and Chris Rock. Internet users created countless memes and threads analyzing her body language and past comments to paint her as the villain in the situation.

Tiffany Haddish

Haddish has seen her public favor turn due to various legal issues and controversial admissions in interviews. Social media users expressed outrage following a lawsuit alleging inappropriate behavior with minors which was later dismissed. Videos of her awkward stage performances and erratic behavior at events also circulate frequently on TikTok. Commentators often debate whether her career can recover from the compounding negative press.

Meagan Good

Good faced a unique form of backlash regarding her relationship with actor Jonathan Majors during his highly publicized assault trial. Photos of her holding his hand and supporting him at court appearances circulated widely on X and Instagram. Many fans expressed disappointment and accused her of betraying women by standing by him despite the allegations. She continued to support him publicly which kept the debate about her choices active for months.

Tessa Thompson

Thompson faced scrutiny when she was cast as Valkyrie in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ because the comic character was originally depicted as a white woman. She also drew ire from certain internet groups for her comments regarding the need for more diversity in film criticism. Her involvement in the ‘Men in Black’ reboot further fueled complaints from audiences who felt the franchise did not need a revival. She consistently uses her platform to advocate for inclusion despite the noise from detractors.

Yara Shahidi

Disney selected Shahidi to play Tinkerbell in the live-action film ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ which triggered a familiar cycle of casting complaints. Social media users argued that the iconic fairy should remain blonde and white as seen in the 1953 animation. The movie was review-bombed on various aggregators before it even premiered on the streaming service. Shahidi responded by expressing her excitement to bring diversity to a classic story.

Keke Palmer

Palmer became a trending topic after her boyfriend publicly shamed her outfit choice at an Usher concert on Twitter. The incident sparked a massive debate about relationship dynamics and controlling behavior. While many supported her, a significant portion of the “manosphere” community attacked her for disrespecting her partner and being a mother. She capitalized on the moment by releasing merchandise that referenced the controversy.

Anna Diop

The casting of Diop as Starfire in the live-action series ‘Titans’ was met with immediate hostility from comic book fans. Leaked set photos showing her in a fur coat and curly hair were used to mock the production values and her look. She was forced to disable her Instagram comments to block out the racist vitriol she received before the show aired. Diop later explained that the leaked photos lacked context and visual effects but the damage to her online experience was already done.

Whoopi Goldberg

The EGOT winner frequently faces calls for her termination from ‘The View’ due to her controversial takes on hot-button issues. She has been suspended from the show following ill-received comments regarding the Holocaust and Jewish identity. Twitter users regularly circulate petitions and hashtags demanding her removal from the daytime talk show. Her unfiltered style of commentary ensures that she remains a polarizing figure in online discourse.

Ayo Edebiri

Edebiri faced a brief but intense period of backlash when resurfaced podcast clips showed her making jokes about Jennifer Lopez. The audio circulated on TikTok just as she was scheduled to appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ with Lopez as the musical guest. Fans of the singer demanded an apology and accused the actress of being mean-spirited. She addressed the situation privately and managed to diffuse the tension during the live broadcast.

Tell us in the comments which of these actresses you believe handled the pressure with the most grace.