Riverdale’s Bernadette Beck has hit out at the show for its portrayal of Black people.
The star, who plays Peaches ‘N Cream on The CW series since season three, highlighted her character’s lack of character development and how she was made out to be ‘unlikable’ from the get-go.
‘I was made out to be a very unlikable character and therefore, an unlikeable person in people’s eyes,’ Beck began in an interview with Elle.
‘I get it, there’s always a protagonist and antagonist, but I never had much of a story plot or enough character development to even be considered an antagonist.
‘I was, for no reason, depicted in a very negative, unattractive light. And I’m not the first Black actress to show up on set, stand there, chew gum, and look sassy and mean.
‘I feel like I was just there to fulfill a diversity quota. It’s just to fulfill points.’
Beck continued: ‘I was completely forgotten in the scene more than once.
‘The director [would] be walking off set and I’d have to chase them down because I had no idea where to stand, what to do—I just hadn’t been given any instruction.
‘You can’t treat people like they’re invisible and then pat yourself on the back for meeting your diversity quota for the day.’
Last month, Vanessa Morgan spoke out about the lack of representation on TV.
The Toni Topaz actress said that she would turn down roles on shows that didn’t properly represent Black people going forward.
Riverdale creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa promised to ‘do more to honour’ Vanessa’s grievances and responded to her in a statement posted on Instagram.
‘We hear Vanessa. We love Vanessa. She’s right. We’re sorry and we make the same promise to you that we did to her.
‘We will do better to honor her and the character she plays. As well as all of our actors and characters of color.
‘Change is happening and will continue to happen. Riverdale will get bigger, not smaller. Riverdale will be part of the movement, not outside it.’
Roberto added: ‘All of the Riverdale writers made a donation to @BLMLA, but we know where the work must happen for us. In the writers’ room.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted The CW for comment.
Riverdale is available to stream on Netflix.
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