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Biracial 'Frozen' Actor Speaks Out After Racist Audience Members Walk Out Due To His Casting
A biracial actor playing one of the major roles in the London, England West End production of Disney's Frozen musical called out a group of audience members who walked out of the show allegedly due to his casting being an example of "woke culture silliness."
Obioma Ugoala is an Irish-Nigerian actor who plays the role of Kristoff–whose character in the 2013 animated film the show is based on is depicted as a White iceman in the fictional town of Arendelle.
In response to the audience members who were opposed to his casting, Ugoala posted a series of tweets calling out their racism.
"I love playing this show night after night at the DRURY LANE playing a love interest in a Disney Musical opposite the cream of the crop of the talent the West End has to offer," he wrote in his first tweet hashtagged with #RepresenMatters.
"It is the stuff of dreams for this little brown boy AND YET…"
"For those four audience members in their 50s who left the show, bemoaning my casting as Kristoff as 'woke culture silliness', I feel sorry for you that this Nigerian-Irish Londoner selling ice with a reindeer as a BFF in a fictional land is a step too far for you."
For those four audience members in their 50s who left the show, bemoaning my casting as Kristoff as \u201cwoke culture silliness\u201d, I feel sorry for you that this Nigerian-Irish Londoner selling ice with a reindeer as a BFF in a fictional land is a step too far for you.— Obioma Ugoala (@Obioma Ugoala) 1648072277
He continued:
"I am sorry that in a world of Ice Queens and magic strikes, this 'darkie' as you referred to me was outside of your imagination."
"Perhaps you presumed you were safe to speak of me that way, not feeling you’d be overheard."
"Perhaps the film has a special place in your heart."
He went on to comment on how his "Afro hair and melanated skin" were "beyond the scope of what you could fathom."
Ugoala also wished those theater patrons could have watched the production representing a "cast of all hues and colors" through the innocent eyes of the hundreds of children who are moved by the show.
My Afro hair and melanated skin beyond the scope of what you could fathom. \n\nBut, sirs and madams, night after night, I see hundreds of children watch our talented cast of all hues and colours and escape into a magical world for two hours. \n\nI wish you had their eyes.— Obioma Ugoala (@Obioma Ugoala) 1648072278
The world is changing, I dare to dream, for the better. \n\nI have had too many dreams promised out of my reach, rooms warned weren\u2019t for me, roles beyond my imagination. \n\nI am glad a new generation will watch our show and feel invited to dream of bigger, better and brighter.— Obioma Ugoala (@Obioma Ugoala) 1648072278
I am glad they will dream kindly and imagine worlds where we are all included. \n\nI wish you had their eyes. \n\nThe sadness that you left me with tonight will be replaced tomorrow morning with the renewed zeal of one reminded we still have work to do. \n\nI wish you had their eyes.— Obioma Ugoala (@Obioma Ugoala) 1648072280
"The sadness that you left me with tonight will be replaced tomorrow morning with the renewed zeal of one reminded we still have work to do," he wrote, and concluded the thread emphasizing once more, "I wish you had their eyes."
Many fans on Twitter responded with kinds words and love for the talented performer.
You are loved and respected and admired by so many. I feel so sorry that you had to experience that level of abject narrow-mindedness. Please receive my love tonight sir x— Dan Ryan (@Dan Ryan) 1648077497
I loved you in this show, sorry you have had to experience this - as you say tomorrow you will get to perform to a bunch of fresh faces (especially the young people) who see themselves represented on stage. Keep up the good work!— David Whitney \ud83c\udf08 (@David Whitney \ud83c\udf08) 1648076628
i showed a photo of the west end cast to my class (ages 5 and 6). nothing will compare to the faces of the black and mixed race children when they realised kristoff looks like them. diversity on stage MATTERS. diversity in disney MATTERS. your casting as kristoff is both— nicky (@nicky) 1648078195
I came from Scotland to see the show with my 7 year old daughter who was mesmerised from the second we stood queuing outside to the second we found ourselves back on the street post show. We only saw a cast with outrageous talent, phenomenal passion and joy your faces. TY TY TY— \u2728 Tommy Thomson\u2728 (@\u2728 Tommy Thomson\u2728) 1648075337
Obi, I'm so sorry. I'm so proud of what you achieve & will never forget the magic you gave my little people. They were in awe of your talent as am I. I'm angry that that isn't what everyone takes away from this show & that you are dealing with this racism. All love— Jordana Golbourn (@Jordana Golbourn) 1648076020
So sorry this happened & that you have bore the brunt of that harsh reminder. You are part of a change that means young black and minoritised kids, like my younger brother, can see themselves reflected and feel like theatre is for them! And enjoy it! Just wanted to say thank you— Tabz O'Brien (@Tabz O'Brien) 1648108892
'I wish you had their eyes.'\n\nThat hits home, hard. If only more people embraced things with a childlike joy instead of meanness or hatred.— Alicia Pearson (@Alicia Pearson) 1648106687
They are becoming the minority. You are right where you need to be.— Amber Coates (@Amber Coates) 1648110567
You respond to their ignorance with beautiful words and more wisdom than they will ever understand. I hope you won\u2019t dwell on the awful words you heard— CarolinePetherbridge (@CarolinePetherbridge) 1648152286
You are bigger, better and brighter then those tossers.— andy chaplin\ud83d\udc99 (@andy chaplin\ud83d\udc99) 1648118799
This is absolutely disgusting, well done for bringing this to light and shaming, hopefully they will see it and learn better, for the record I thought you were amazing as kristoff when we saw it— CBB1 (@CBB1) 1648119273
Ugoala has trained at London’s Drama Centre, and his resume includes performing in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry V and The Mouse and his Child.
He is also the author of his revealing memoir, The Problem With My Normal Penis, which confronts the prejudices faced by Black men and challenges the notions of race, sex, and masculinity that are deeply ingrained in British society.