British actor and heartthrob John Boyega wasn’t feeling fellow Brit– Idris Elba’s latest declaration of not labeling himself a “Black actor” anymore. Social media users went up for the response.
On February 10, the 30-year-old Woman King actor responded to the nonsense on Twitter. Boyega wrote, “I think we should fixate on who is typecasting and putting actors in boxes because of this. Not on making weird adjustments for them. We continuously focus on what we have to do so they don’t do this or that. Very worrying. We BLACK, and that’s that.”
I think we should fixate on who is typecasting and putting actors in boxes because of this. Not on making weird adjustments for them. We continuously focus on what we have to do so they don’t do this or that. Very worrying. We BLACK and that’s that. https://t.co/E0sBLJOBIR
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) February 10, 2023
Black Twitter reacted to his forward response.
OOP. pic.twitter.com/1ICxv6MwuQ
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) February 10, 2023
— DDOT. (@DDotOmen) February 10, 2023
We BLACK and that’s that. 👏🏿
— numa perrier (@missnuma) February 10, 2023
Lemme cashapp you king
— Steven Underwood (@blaqueword) February 10, 2023
His statements are pretty damning… it’s the tolerance instead of celebration, colorblindness instead color inclusive argument. Removing your racial distinction doesn’t make folks less racist towards you. Removing racial distinction just makes bigots more comfortable.
— Uh uh; But How Do It Free Us? Sanchez (@maracharese) February 10, 2023
My man! This is the point. We as black people do most of the work to fix the problems we did not create. Whether you label yourself black or not, you’re being type casted because you are black. I shutter to think what Idris’s career would be if he was white.
— Hollywood Coleman (@bkajubi) February 12, 2023
— PremEnstrualsYndrome (@EyewitnessViews) February 10, 2023
Sir, you are not only a real one, you’re everything. That is all. pic.twitter.com/xJ7hbhwLYR
— Jill Robi – Fangirl🐬 (@JillRobiFangirl) February 11, 2023
On February 8, Elba proclaimed, “As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.”
The Luther actor said the statement– to the chagrin of Black folks.
However, in 2016, he told a different story.
“When you don’t reflect the real world, too much talent is actually trashed. Now, talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. Talent can’t reach opportunity unaided, especially on our small island. That’s why Britain– British talent gets exported all over the world,” Elba told a British public television station.
Either way, Boyega appeared to speak on Black people’s behalf. We are here for it!
