After the reboot of the iCarly show was announced over the weekend, actress Laci Mosely, who will be playing Maranda Cosgrove’s best friend and roommate, spoke out about receiving racist attacks on social media.
The original show had Carly’s best friend Sam, played by Jennette McCurdy. iCarly fans took issue with Carly’s best friend being Black.
On Instagram, alongside a picture of social media comments, one of which included a racial slur, Mosley wrote, “I’ve been deleting and blocking people, but I can’t be bothered anymore.”
“Stay mad. I felt silly being upset by racism cause it’s just how this terrible planet is, but sometimes it still catches me off guard,” she added.
The young actress took to Twitter to express her grievances about the racism she’s been experiencing.
“My sister telling me that she saw several videos about me on TikTok being racist as f**k broke my heart,” Mosely expressed. “Me and my sister are 13 years apart; she’s like my child, and her having to see this s**t broke me. I don’t know what’s wrong with you people, but you need to seek help.”
My sister telling me that she saw several videos about me on TikTok being racist as fuck broke my heart. Me and my sister are 13 years apart she’s like my child and her having to see this shit broke me. I don’t know what’s wrong with you people but you need to seek help.
— SCAM GODDESS (@DivaLaci) May 17, 2021
In a follow-up tweet, she clapped back and spoke about not allowing haters to rain on her parade.
“I’m gonna thug it out y’all can’t break me,” she said. “I’ve been through too much. But f**k you weirdos, being a Black woman is so hard but so lit I’m gonna go harder. You’ll be mad forever.”
I’m gonna thug it out y’all can’t break me. I’ve been through too much. But fuck you weirdos, being a Black woman is so hard but so lit I’m gonna go harder you’ll be mad forever. ✌🏾
— SCAM GODDESS (@DivaLaci) May 17, 2021
On Monday, Mosley had all the smoke for racist rhetoric.
— SCAM GODDESS (@DivaLaci) May 18, 2021
“I love being Black. I hate how Black people are treated on this planet,” she wrote in part. “I was shocked when a celebration of all the hard work we’ve put into making this reboot was overshadowed by the most racism I’ve ever experienced over the course of 72 hours.”
“I felt silly being so upset because I’ve been in this little brown body my entire life, and racism isn’t new, but it still hurts. I’m not ‘replacing Sam’ I’ve never met her, but I know she’s extremely talented, and I hope she does not condone some of y’all’s behavior. Racism kills.”
“Black is beautiful, and no amount of slurs or vitriol you dump online will change that,” she concluded.
Franchesca Ramsey, one of the show’s writers, came to Mosley’s defense and tweeted her concerns about comments directed at Mosley.
“Hey, #iCarly tweeps! I’m seeing a looooot of racist abuse being hurled at one of our stars & I’d love if you’d join me in calling it out it when/if you see it,” Ramsey wrote.
Hey #iCarly tweeps! I’m seeing a looooot of racist abuse being hurled at one of our stars & I’d love if you’d join me in calling it out it when/if you see it. pic.twitter.com/8bhWnCD1FC
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) May 16, 2021
“I’m sad this has to be said, but if I’m being honest…I kinda expected it. And I hate that. It’s heartbreaking that Black women just EXISTING results in an onslaught of racist abuse,” she continued.
In response to the attacks, Paramount+ and the iCarly Instagram account shared a statement that Cosgrove also shared on her own Instagram.
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“iCarly are proud to be racially diverse, not only in our crew but our cast,” the statement read. “We have recently seen reports of racism towards a member of our iCarly cast, and it is not acceptable! Please think about your words, and take time to understand how what you say can impact other people. Thank you.”
