Aimee Walker
Netflix’s new hit series Wednesday has been called out by viewers for being ‘racist’.
The Addams Family spinoff follows Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she enrols in a new school for outcasts.
Four out of the eight episodes are directed by Tim Burton, who also serves as executive producer on the hit show.
Burton is famous for his gothic horror and fantasy movies including Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Corpse Bride.
But over the years, he has also faced a backlash over the lack of diversity in his projects while some of his characters were deemed racially ‘insensitive’.
Watch the trailer for Wednesday below…
The commentary surrounding Burton’s work has risen once again following the popularity of Wednesday.
Although it features Black actors in prominent roles, fans have argued that these characters have all been portrayed as ‘bullies’.
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For example, Black actor Joy Sunday – who plays Bianca Barclay – plays a mean girl at the academy.
While Lucas Walker (played by Iman Marson) is a bully in the series and is the son of a corrupt mayor.
Criticising the characterisation of the two characters, one fan tweeted: “I’m loving the new Wednesday series, but why are all the Black actors lit so terribly?”
In agreement, another added: “Don’t get me wrong…I love Jenna Ortega and that she’s playing Wednesday but one thing I hate about this show is that why did they make ALL the Black people in this show terrible people?”
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“Like how did Netflix see nothing wrong with this?”
While a third viewer questioned: “Why are all the Black characters in Wednesday antagonists? Or did I miss something?”
“There isn’t one positive and good Black character in Wednesday. Just saying,” someone else commented.
Although many viewers have expressed their concern, it appears as though no one will be getting a response from the director anytime soon.
Burton’s representative hit back at the ‘silly’ claims and refused to comment on them.
His rep told The New York Post that they would never forward a comment request ‘this silly to Tim’.
They reportedly went on to emphasise how ridiculous they believed the request to be by sending the reporter a completely unrelated article and accusing it of being racist.
Related Article: Netflix Explains Why Jenna Ortega Never Blinks In Wednesday
Previously, Burton has defended casting mostly white people in his movies.
In a 2016 interview with Bustle, the Corpse Bride director said: “Nowadays, people are talking about it [film diversity] more.
“Things either call for things, or they don’t.”
He went on to say that he wouldn’t be offended when watching movies that don’t feature white people.
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Around the time of this comment, Burton was promoting his fantasy film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which stars Black actor Samuel L Jackson.
Jackson defended the director and branded him ‘a great guy’.
The Pulp Fiction actor commented: “I don’t think it’s any fault of his or his method of storytelling, it’s just how it’s played out.”
Wednesday is now available to watch on Netflix.
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