Actress Bethany Antonia Confronts Racist Troll
Unexpected Hate Directed at Game of Thrones Spinoff Star
In an unfortunate incident, Bethany Antonia, a prominent actor from the ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff, ‘House of the Dragon,’ was recently called out by a racist troll on her Instagram account. Antonia, who is portraying Lady Baela Targaryen in the series, was compelled to address the unsolicited racist comment sent to her via direct message.
Antonia’s Clever Response and Fan Support
Antonia handled the situation with intelligence and humor. She shared a screenshot of the virulent message together with a witty retort, hinting at her real-life sexual orientation. As a response to the harsh comments regarding her interpretation of a character initially described as white in the source material by George R.R. Martin, she said, “Wait till they find out I’m gay too.”
The actress also shared an empowering photograph of herself flaunting crystal hair art, along with a defiant message that her detractors couldn’t damper her joyous experience embodying a pivotal character in the Game of Thrones universe.
After her exposed confrontation, her fans rallied behind her, flooding her social media posts with positive messages of love and support, countering the racially driven hatred against her.
Racism Against Co-Star Steve Toussaint
This perturbing incident of hate speech mirrors a similar situation involving her ‘House of the Dragon’ co-star, Steve Toussaint. Toussaint, who plays Antonia’s character’s grandfather, Lord Corlys Velaryon, faced criticism from viewers who were displeased with the series’ decision to feature a black actor for this role. During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Toussaint addressed these issues, stating that the audience’s perception of his casting was their problem, not his.
On that note, it’s high time that hate speech, especially when directed towards actors playing fictional characters, should be dealt with sternly.
DPH’s Hot Take
In conclusion, the vehement trolling faced by Bethany Antonia and Steve Toussaint is a stark reminder of the rampant racial prejudice pervasive in the realm of global pop culture. However, the actors’ dignified responses and unwavering fan support navigate the conversation toward positivity and inclusivity. For DPH, this issue underscores how far we still have to travel concerning e-discrimination and cyber bullying.
The power of storytelling should triumph over the imaginary barrier of race. In essence, these characters are fictional constructs, and their ethnicity should in no way confine the casting choices. Their intense, captivating, and well-executed performances should be lauded, their skin color inconsequential.