Regé-Jean Page has responded to allegations that he wasn’t given a role in TV series Krypton because he is Black.
Everyone has been obsessed with Page since he played the sexy Duke in Bridgerton. But before he starred in that role, the smoking hot English actor auditioned to play Superman’s grandfather in Krypton. The show’s creators initially wanted to diversify the DC universe by putting Page in the role. But according to The Hollywood Reporter they eventually gave the role to White actor Cameron Cuffe, because he better resembled a “young Henry Cavill” (who played Superman in the DC films).
Page responded to these allegations in a tweet, and ow it breaks my heart to read.
“Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt me more tbh,” Page wrote.
Hearing about these conversations hurts no less now than it did back then. The clarifications almost hurt more tbh.
Still just doing my thing.
Still we do the work.
We still fly.
👊🏽
— Regé-Jean Page (@regejean) April 7, 2021
This comes after a bunch of actors have come forward explaining the abuse they copped from Justice League Director Joss Whedon. One particular actor who blew the lid off this is Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg – the first Black superhero in the DC film universe.
In 2020, Fisher called Whedon’s behaviour on the set of Justice League “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.” He also claimed the behaviour was enabled by comic book writers and producers Geoff Johns and John Berg.
Fisher told The Hollywood Reporter that since filming Justice League (2017), he has heard of more incidents of abuse, as well as allegations of racism.
Two individuals who worked on Syfy’s Krypton TV told Fisher that Regé-Jean Page was snubbed to play Superman’s grandfather because Geoff Johns said the character couldn’t be Black. Multiple sources also confirmed this to THR.
The creators of Krypton also wanted to make another superhero character, Adam Strange, gay or bisexual. But of course, Johns said no to that idea too.
A spokesperson for Johns had a very icky response to the allegations. They suggested the producer couldn’t be racist because he was married to a Black woman.
“Geoff has personally seen firsthand the painful effects of racial stereotypes concerning hair and other cultural stereotypes, having been married to a Black woman who he was with for a decade and with his second wife, who is Asian American, as well as his son who is mixed race,” the spokesperson said.
Yuck.
