Gina Rodriguez Bursts Into Tears Over Being Called Anti-Black [VIDEO]

Gina Rodriguez Bursts Into Tears Over Being Called Anti-Black

Actress Gina Rodriguez is quite outspoken when it comes to matters of inclusion, representation and diversity in Hollywood. However, her comments come off as being anti-black by some, a criticism that has continued to follow her over the last few years. In response to the backlash she’s received from the black community, she recently teared up in an interview vehemently denying the accusations.

While doing press for her upcoming action/crime drama Miss Bala, actress Gina opened up about how she is perceived as anti-black by a large majority of the black community.

In direct response to the backlash, Rodriguez stated through tears:

“The backlash was devastating to say the least because…because the black community was the only community I looked towards. When didn’t have many Latino shows and the black community made me feel like I was seen. To get anti-black is saying that I’m anti-family because my father is dark-skinned, he’s Afro-Latino, my cousins are and Puerto Ricans are African, Tejano and Spaniard and it’s in my blood, so that was really devastating to me.

She continued,

I know my heart, I know what I meant and I really wish we weren’t living in a culture where we’re clickbait because I’ve never said anything controversial about anybody. Because if anything the black community is my community because as Latinos we are, we have black Latinos, like that is what we are. I am not, right? So, I think when I speak about Latino advocacy people think I only mean people my skin color and little do they know, I’m very aware of what my culture is and the opportunities I create and who I put in those spaces…are both the Latino and the black community. So, it was a really, really, really, really dark time for me, because it made me get away from social media because my mental health is much more important to me.”

Rodriguez didn’t stop there, however, as she addressed the criticism she received from some blacks when she appeared to slight the historical casting, directing, financial and representation of the blockbuster film Black Panther last year.

She pointed out that whites and Asians were not offended by her remarks, only black people, stating:

“It’s sadly a fact that Latinas in all industry make less money, it’s a fact and it sucks, but I wasn’t saying just them. Like, it’s interesting because the white community nor the Asian community didn’t get mad at me. And I found that very interesting because the one community I felt I related to the most were the most upset with me. That was just devastating. How do you talk to so many people and let them know, ‘oh, you are so far from the truth, that is so far from my heart, that is so far from who I am.’ And if you go a see the interview, I was not comparing anyone. I never said actresses.”

Additionally, there are also other instances of Rodriguez appearing to slight the accomplishments of black people in entertainment, such as in the interview she did with fellow actress Yara Shahidi when they were promoting their animated film Smallfoot. See the clip below.

One way to look at this video w/ Gina Rodriguez & Yara Shahidi is That Gina hates when Black Women are mentioned.

Another way to look at it is, that Feminism usually calls for “WOC” to ignore their ethnicity, & just support women in general (which I don’t believe is a good idea) pic.twitter.com/2TevA0zOYY

— PrometheusRisesAgain (@prometheus50K) November 24, 2018

You can watch Gina Rodriguez’s full interview with Sway In The Morning BELOW:

Tell us, do you think Gina Rodriguez is anti-black? How do you feel about her previous remarks? Let us know in the comments. 

By Danielle Jennings