Percy Jackson author condemns racist attacks on Lea Sava Jeffrey cast

Author Percy Jackson and the olympians The book series, and the executive producer of the upcoming Disney+-based book series, has spoken out against the racist response directed at one of the show’s actors.

In a blog post, Rick Riordan criticized social media trolls who complained that Leah Sava Jeffries, who played Anabet Chase on the Disney+ series, was black. Riordan describes the character in blank books.

Disney+ announced on May 5 the roles of Anabet and Grover Underwood in Jeffrey and Iran Simhadr. They will star in the series with Walker Skobel, who plays the title role.

Jeffries, 12, said. instagram video That her TikTok account was banned thanks to people excited about her cast: “They literally deleted my entire account,” she said.

Riordan and his wife, Rebecca Riordan, who is also an executive producer on the show, issued a statement against Jeffrey’s harassment.

“Percy Jackson’s main message has always been that difference is power. Power is in diversity. “What sets us apart is often a sign of our individual greatness,” Rick Riordan wrote. “You should never judge anyone by how much they fit into your preconceived notions. For example, a neurodivergent child who dropped out of six schools could be a child of Poseidon. Anyone can be a hero.

“If you don’t understand that, if you’re still nervous about casting this amazing trio, then it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve read books. You didn’t learn anything from them.”

Written by Rebecca Riordan On twitter“Demagoguery is a good word to know. Do we need to talk about the interconnection of misogyny and racism? Misogyny is equally problematic here. We condemn both. crying? Anabeti does not belong to you. He never did. Leave Leah alone. He also mentioned that the Disney and Jeffries family are working to restore their TikTok account.

Percy Jackson and the olympians It centers on the main character, a 12-year-old boy who discovers he is a demigod. He has just accepted his newfound powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing lightning. Percy embarks on an adventure of a lifetime to find lightning and bring it back to Olympus.

Annabette and Grover are her two biggest allies in the books. She is the daughter of Athena, who becomes Percy’s guide at Camp Half-Blood, the training ground for demigods, as she helps him navigate the human world. Grover is a satire disguised as a 12-year-old boy who always jumps to protect his friends, even if it means putting himself in danger.

“A year ago, when we announced our first open casting call, it was very clear that we follow Disney’s policy of non-discrimination. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive cast. For all roles, nominate qualified artists regardless of disability, gender, race or ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. We did it,” Rick Riordan wrote on his blog. “The casting process was long, intense, massive and exhausting.

“As an author, it was clear to me that I was looking for the best actors to establish and revitalize the personalities of these characters, and that the physical aspect was secondary to me. We did. It took us a year to go through this process thoroughly and look for the best of the best. this trio That’s it The best. Leah Jeffries That’s it Give it to Chase.”

In a separate video on Instagram, Jeffrey also responded: “Whoever hates it, stop doing it. I know you think it hurts. Is not. You’re just wasting your time.”