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Fantastic Four actress and co-founder of The Honest Company, Jessica Alba, called out Hollywood for its lack of diversity during an interview with Glamour UK., adding there was still room for improvement in the industry.
\u201cJessica Alba Says Marvel Movies Are \u2018Still Quite Caucasian\u2019: Not Much Has Changed Since \u2018Fantastic Four\u2019\u00a0Days https://t.co/0j0nvrQKm8\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
Although the actress–whose paternal grandparents were the children of Mexican immigrants–has found success in prominent roles in past films like Sin City (2005), Fantastic Four (2005), and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), she struggled to land leading roles earlier in her career and was often labeled, "exotic."
When asked if Alba has seen changes in Hollywood in recent years, the woman of Latina heritage responded:
"Yeah. It's a business initiative for people now that they realize how much money they can make."
"It's something they care about, which is fine. How they get there really doesn't matter."
"You're like, 'Great. Now you realize there's a whole group of folks that you just frankly left out of the conversation because you just didn't even see them. They were there the whole time.'"
She continued:
"And I guess it's the people in charge. However they get there, it really genuinely doesn't matter."
"I just think more for the younger people who are coming up, who are going to be our future leaders, it's important for them to see the world on screen, or in stories, in the dreams that we create as entertainers; it reflects the world that they're in."
To highlight her example, she pointed to Marvel films–which are dominating box-office juggernauts.
"Even if you look at the Marvel movies—that's the biggest driver of fantasy and what's happening right now in entertainment, because it's sort of the family thing — it's still quite Caucasian."
Her statement was challenged by Marvel stans.
\u201c@Variety LOL. Yeah, except for all the black actors in Black Panther and all the Asian actors in Shang-Chi. Those didn't count for Jessica apparently.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety Did she see Black Panther and Shang-Chi? Also, we\u2019re getting a fictional world of Aztecs soon.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety She\u2019s Hispanic but when she was young and pretty she sold her self as a white girl. She\u2019s old now and hasn\u2019t landed work anywhere and wants to griff on her being half Mexican. Salma Hayek who is much older than Alba has been doing fine. Hayek was in Eternals.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety It\u2019s not true. I guess she hasn\u2019t seen marvel projects in the last years or maybe the problem is she is the one who got no offers from marvel studios\u2026\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety Why does her opinion matter when she had no problem putting on a blonde wig and blue eye contacts so she can portray a white woman. Argue with the wall\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
One user posted a GIF from Disney+'s Ms. Marvel.
The TV series features a teenage character who is a Pakistani-American Muslim from New Jersey.
\u201c@Variety\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
Some people were on the fence.
\u201c@Variety It's a little sad, slowly they are branching out but still.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety And white male-centric.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
\u201c@Variety Jessica Alba is absolutely right! However, she is being disingenous AF as she is a white passing latina who acted in most of her roles as a white person with no mention of her latinx heritage. Her circles has always been white so it's ironic to see her speak about diversity now.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1658431454
Actress Jameela Jamil–who was born to an Indian father and a Pakistani-British mother–commented on Variety's tweet featuring the interview with Alba and disagreed.
"I think one can say there is always room for improvement everywhere, but I would say Marvel are *way* ahead of everyone else in diversity," tweeted Jamil, who will appear in the upcoming Marvel series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
She mentioned recent Marvel films featuring non-White actors in leading roles to back her point.
"It has changed beyond recognition in the past 10 years. Just saying."
"Black Panther, Ms Marvel, Shang Chi, and She Hulk come to mind."
\u201cI think one can say there is always room for improvement everywhere, but I would say Marvel are *way* ahead of everyone else in diversity and it has changed beyond recognition in the past 10 years. Just saying. Black Panther, Ms Marvel, Shang Chi, and She Hulk come to mind.\u201d— Jameela Jamil \ud83c\udf08 (@Jameela Jamil \ud83c\udf08) 1658436583
Alba later admitted her generalization about Marvel was not accurate.
She responded to Jamil's tweet, saying:
"I stand corrected -a lot has changed. @Marvel seems to be leading the way."
"There is a ton that has been developed and is being released along w all that is out now. Look forward to ur work @jameelajamil love seeing ur gorgeous self onscreen."
\u201c@jameelajamil I stand corrected -a lot has changed. @Marvel seems to be leading the way. There is a ton that has been developed and is being released along w all that is out now. Look forward to ur work @jameelajamil love seeing ur gorgeous self onscreen \u2728\ud83c\udf20\u201d— Jameela Jamil \ud83c\udf08 (@Jameela Jamil \ud83c\udf08) 1658436583
Jamil responded back with, "Love you. Always."