I never watched Heroes when it was on, though I did have my
gaydar piqued at the arrival of not-quite-out-all-the-way, soon to be
Husband-In-My-Head, Zachary Quinto, but I have learned that it wasn’t
always the most diverse place to work. The show ALLEGEDLY fired many actors
of color during its first few seasons, and Leonard Roberts was one of
those actors. He played DL Hawkins, who was married to white actress Ali
Larter’s character, and now he’s spilling the tea, saying he was let go because
Larter is a racist.
He says his character was supposed to be introduced in the
pilot, but:
“After the show was picked up to series, I learned my character had
been removed from the pilot and would be introduced in the second episode. I
briefly wondered if Black folks in the TV game suffered the same fate as our
counterparts in pre-Jordan Peele horror films, and were the first to go upon a
new show’s pickup.”
Then came the photo shoot for ads touting the show, when
the three lone actors of color were, as Roberts says, “relegated to the back and
sides of photo after photo because, we were told, we were ‘tall’.” He was then
told his character wouldn’t be introduced in the second episode after all, but
he’d make his debut by episode 5 …or 6. And then came Ali Larter. As episode 6 began
filming, his character, D.L. Hawkins, was in an interracial marriage with Niki
Sanders [Ali Larter], and Larter took issue with a scene involving
intimacy:
“[During] the staging of
a bedroom scene, [Larter] took umbrage with the level of intimacy being
suggested between our characters. … Our director asked if she was willing to
lower the straps of the top … and expose her bare shoulders only above the
sheet… [Larter] refused … and I was instantly aware of the tension on the set. …
[Larter] insisted she was … being asked to remove her top completely, and
rehearsal was cut. She then demanded a meeting with [the director] Greg Beeman
and the producers who were on set and proceeded to have an intense and loud
conversation in which she expressed she had never been so disrespected—as an
actress, a woman or a human being.”
But Roberts says that Larter had already shot a love scene
with white actor Adrian Pasdar and had no issues with being asked to appear
naked onscreen. He also talked of the promises from producers that his job was secure for the second season, only to find himself unemployed as the season ended. He asked for a sit down with producers who
told him his firing was due to “the Ali Larter situation” and said they
couldn’t figure out a way to include his character in the show if Larter didn’t
like him.
Now, while Roberts clearly is no fan of Larter, he’s placing most of the blame on the higher-ups for allowing Larter’s ALLEGED views to drive the show and drive him off
the show. Still as soon as his piece came out in Variety, Larter spewed
this:
“I am
deeply saddened to hear about Leonard Roberts’ experience on Heroes and I am
heartbroken reading his perception of our relationship, which absolutely
doesn’t match my memory nor experience on the show. I respect Leonard as an
artist and I applaud him or anyone using their voice and platform. I am truly
sorry for any role I may have played in his painful experience during that time
and I wish him and his family the very best.”
She’s sorry he thinks she’s racist, but she doesn’t remember
being a racist, but if she was being racist, she certainly didn’t mean it.
Uh huh.
photo |
Let's all sing the praises of MacKenzie Scott; it must be such a relief not being married to Mr Scrooge Bezos anymore. After all it costs money to run a giant corporation and Scrooge isn't as rich as he was, so how can he afford to give his employees decent terms and conditions, pay rises and holidays, not to mention decent health care.
ReplyDeleteBezos has made (reportedly) 13 Billion a day during the pandemic. If he really feels he needs all that money, then he is a sick, sick man. If he is, in fact, giving it away quietly, without drawing attention to himself, then bravo. But, if not... how can he live with himself? MacKenzie rocks. More power to her.
ReplyDeleteHeroes. Never watched it. But, yes, Larter's statement reeks. What an awful lady. Hope she never works again. (Larter who?)
Jordan Peele sucks. His movies are terrible. He is the Tyler Perry of horror. Blech.
Love queen Naomi. You two... patch things up for the holidays and make nice-nice. She needs love and understanding. All monsters do.
Erika Jayne rocks the club. Her husband, however, sounds like every other ugly old rich white man in trouble. Sigh. Spare me.
Enjoy your weekend as much as I enjoy your gossip column. Kizzes.
Wearing a full hazmat suit and yet her mask is hanging off her face?
ReplyDeleteMacKenzie sure is putting ole Ebeneezer Scrooge to shame isn't she. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted this about Bezos's ex-wife. I didn't realize that she was being generous with her settlement. The world needs more rich people like her!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that Bezo's ex is a kind and generous person and all, but damn. I believe that Amazon should be paying THEIR FUCKING FAIR SHARE OF TAXES so we wouldn't have to depend on billionaires to feel some small vestiges of human decency and spread a little of their wealth around. It's beyond disgusting for some human beings to have THAT much money.
ReplyDeleteMackenzie Scott shows what CAN be done with extreme wealth. We know at least one reason she left Bezos.
ReplyDeleteSome of MacKenzie Scott dollars
ReplyDeletecame to a college near us.
xoxo :-)
MacKenzie Scott should be commended.
ReplyDeleteJeff meanwhile, one day alone made like 18 billion. He could be doing so much good for the country and helping less fortunate....but can't even take care of his own employees. One reason I will not shop amazon. The greed of him and others like him is so downright disgusting and vile. I hope one day Amazon burns.
I used to use a people person...but people like this ruined it me.
ms. scott has donated $$$ to several charities in this area; fuck her ex! and fuck the rest of the trash in this post too! and fuck all the MAGAts! bah humbug!
ReplyDelete@Helen
ReplyDeleteWhile she gives away billions, he hoards billions, because he’s a tiny bald man with a tiny bald dick and the only way he can a woman, after MacKenzie dumped his ass, is to show off all the zeros in his bank account.
@uptonking
Well, Naomi did kinda bury the hatchet with Tyra, so maybe I should, too? I mean, as long as she isn’t burying it in my back?
@Debra
Well, she is a model, and the face earns her millions .... but, yeah.
@Treaders
And reading him for filth while doing so!!
@Michael
Some good news is welcome this year, eh? Glad to see you stop by.
@Jennifer
Think of what could be done in this country if everyone paid fair taxes! And these rich m-f’ers would still be rich!
@Mitch
Well, he was banging the wife of a friend, so there’s that; and then the fact that he is a money-grubbing pig.
@TDM
Sharing the wealth. It’s good.
@MM
Yes, she should, and her husband should be ashamed. He is the reason I don’t buy, and will never buy from Amazon.
@AM
And no matter how much money she hives away, she will always be rich, so, yah,toomuch money is entirely possible.
The Girardi's grift has also made the front page of the LA Times... not the kind of publicity he wants.
ReplyDeleteHas Ali Larter been doing anything? I only watched the series for Zachary and Milo.
And Mackenzie make the other 1% look like horror stories.