Black Panther star Letitia Wright renews apologies for sharing homophobic, transphobic sermon
Letitia Wright renews apology two years on from controversy. (Getty)
Black Panther’s Letitia Wright has renewed her apology two years on from sharing a transphobic, COVID-19 anti-vax conspiracy video.
The actor received huge criticism from fans for sharing the video from a channel run by anti-LGBTQ+ brothers Tomi and Tobi Arayomi.
She had then tweeted: “If you don’t conform to popular opinions, but ask questions and think for yourself… you get cancelled.”
At the time she apologised, saying: “My intention was not to hurt anyone, my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodies. Nothing else.”
Although the star deleted her Twitter, since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has hit screens, she reiterated her apology in a new interview with The Guardian.
“I feel it’s something I experienced two years ago and I have in a healthy way moved on. And in a healthy way I’ve apologised and deleted my Twitter. I just apologised for any hurt that was caused to anybody,” she said.
And when prompted about whether people misrepresented her values, she added: “That’s exactly what my apology was. It was saying this is not me, and I apologise.”
After being pressed as to whether Wright ever took the vaccine, she remarked. “I have apologised and I have moved on. Next question. Thanks.”
Letitia Wright (Centre Right) attends Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiere with co-stars. (Getty)
Wright also called out The Hollywood Reporter, which wrote an article tracking Will Smith, Brad Pitt and her own Oscar hopes in light of the controversy surrounding each actor.
The article references Will Smith’s infamous Chris Rock slap, accusations of abuse from Angelina Jolie to ex-husband Brad Pitt. It also looked back at filmmakers Roman Polanski and Woody Allen’s accusations of alleged sexual assault, as well as several other male artists who have come under accusations of abuse and assault.
Taking to her Instagram story, Wright addressed the publication and author, Scott Feinberg. “You are all incredibly disrespectful,” she wrote.
“How dare you. You mentioned my name alongside men who have been accused of abuse & sexual misconduct. This is vile behaviour.”
She added: “Stop your nonsense.
“I apologised TWO years ago. Remained silent on the topic. Your agenda towards me is now even more clear. I won’t remain silent. Stop your disgusting behaviour.”
She then posted a follow-up message specifically for Feinberg, stating: “I’ve remained silent as the world told me to kill myself two years ago for a video I posted and apologised for.
“I kept my head down and focused on my craft. And now I am on the other side of it.”
After further calling Feinberg out of including her name in “this nasty article”, she concluded: “I’m still here, still making impact, still creating projects that touch people’s hearts and it’s not going to stop.”
Fans have come to Wright’s defence in light of the article. One person wrote: “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t agree with what she said back then but she’s absolutely right.
“She apologised for any hurt she caused and what she did was no way near on the spectrum of what those men have done yet she still got grouped with them.”
Others pointed out that the article did clarify “varying degrees of controversy”.
