Stargirl's Anjelika Washington shares ‘very uncomfortable and oppressive’ encounter where stunt double was in blackface
STARGIRL actress Anjelika Washington has told how she felt "very uncomfortable" when confronted with her own stunt double in blackface – sharing a stark picture of the moment in question.
The 22-year-old took to her Instagram page to detail the shock moment, which she made clear did not happen on set of the DC Universe series, but on her fourth acting job.
Doctor Mid-Nite actress Anjelika shared a snap of her standing side by side with her stunt double, who was in blackface, and dressed in exactly the same outfit.
Although both females were smiling for the camera, Angelika revealed her hidden pain in the image caption, as she told how bosses "painted" her co-star black.
In the lengthy, and hugely emotional explanation, she put: “I was very uncomfortable (as anyone would be to meet your double in blackface) so I spoke up for myself.
“I pulled one of our producers aside and asked, ‘Why isn’t my stunt double Black like me? Isn’t that the point of a double?
"She responded, ‘Sure. But we couldn’t find a Black stunt double in L.A. Los Angeles doesn’t have many Black stunt performers.
"But aren’t you happy to be working? You should be thankful to be here.'”
After re-telling the employee's shockingly blunt words, Angelika said in her opinion the situation is an "oppressive thing that often happens when everyone and everything are ran by white people on sets."
She told how people of colour were encouraged to feel "grateful" for their place and added: “They do this to us because they know that they literally run the show.
"They feel like a saviour for giving a young Black girl a role in their show, even though most times it’s just to check a box.
“They often don’t check to see if we are comfortable with what they are asking of us, they often call us unprofessional or a diva for advocating for ourselves, and most times they get away with paying us way less than our costars.
"This is why being inclusive and hiring POC in front of the camera and behind it is extremely imperative.”
In powerful closing words, she added: “I am vowing to never ever allow these types of micro and macro aggressions to happen to me again. And you should not either.
“We must value ourselves higher even if they call us a diva. We must use our voice even if they call us loud.
"We must demand equality even if they call us ungrateful. The next generation depends on us. #blacklivesmatter."
Fans were quick to show solidarity with the California-born star and one replied: "Wow. I am totally disgusted."
Another surmised: "Go queen noone deserves to go through that, and that was amazing that you spoke up."
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