Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ Accused Of Racism For Casting Black Actors As Bullies

Just because a black/brown/white actor is cast as a bully in a TV show, it doesn’t mean it’s a commentary on the group their skin colour corresponds to, does it? Well try telling that to the people who are crying racism on Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’, screening now on Netflix.

Critics have taken issue with black actress Joy Sunday playing a mean girl at Nevermore Academy and black actor Iman Marson portraying a bully and the son of a corrupt mayor. Here’s some of the reaction online:

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? Like how did Netflix see nothing wrong with this? I hate Tim Burton’s racist self.

— icy ♡’s luffy🏴‍☠️🍖 (@luffyslover) November 27, 2022

Tim Burton’s response to criticism about not using black people in his work is to make the first couple black kids in Wednesday antagonists 😬

— Raven (@theravenmonroe) November 24, 2022

So is everyone talking bout how racist the new Wednesday show is? I mean I like Jenna Ortega’s acting in it. But what’s up with the writing? Why are the only two Black high-school kids characters in the show the “bad guys”..?

— Nicolette Wood (@nicosprinkles) December 1, 2022

“black people don’t always have to be the protagonist” we know that but why did they make bianca and every black character in “wednesday” antagonistic or rude or sketchy… https://t.co/p5jCmolOHw

— justin (@luvjust1n) November 27, 2022

Admittedly I haven’t seen the show yet but it seems like this entire argument is based on black actors being cast as asshole characters. Interestingly, there are some comments suggesting critics ‘watch the show till the end’ in order to feel silly about their accusations. A rep for Burton, who served as a director and executive producer of the series, gave the criticism the response it deserves when contacted by the NY Post for comment: