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Lin-Manuel Rodriguez has recently addressed the backlash surrounding his film, “In The Heights,” particularly criticism regarding its representation of dark-skinned characters. While the film has been celebrated for its depiction of a predominantly Dominican community in New York City’s Washington Heights, it has also faced scrutiny for not including enough dark-skinned Afro-Latino characters and for minimizing the role of Benny, the only dark-skinned character in the story. The original Broadway musical included a subplot where Benny faced disapproval from Nina’s parents due to his skin color, which was cut from the film.
Following the film’s debut, both director Jon M. Lee and producer Rodriguez, who contributed the music and lyrics, have responded to the concerns raised online about the cast’s primarily light-skinned Latinx representation. In an interview with host and producer Felicia Luna, Lee and some of the film’s cast addressed these issues. Luna, who is Afro-Cuban and a New York City native, asked how they would respond to accusations that “In The Heights” favors white-passing and light-skinned Latinx individuals.
Lee admitted, “This was a topic we discussed and I needed to be more informed about. Ultimately, when casting, we sought out the best actors for each role. It’s a critical conversation we should all engage in,” acknowledging that many on social media believe such discussions should have occurred prior to the film’s production.
Melissa Cruz, who portrays Vanessa, echoed these sentiments, stating, “During auditions—which were extensive—many Afro-Latino actors and darker-skinned individuals were present. The goal was to find the right fit for each character.” However, when Cruz mentioned the presence of dark-skinned dancers in the film, Luna pointed out that these roles have historically been available, but leading roles remain a significant hurdle for representation.
Lee further remarked, “We won’t get everything right in a film.” After a viral clip from the interview circulated online, Rodriguez took to Twitter to address the criticism, stating, “I understand that the lack of sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation makes the work feel extractive of the community we aimed to portray with pride and joy. I appreciate the feedback and am listening.” He concluded by expressing his commitment to improvement in future projects, emphasizing the need for ongoing learning to honor the diverse community.
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Summary: Lin-Manuel Rodriguez has addressed the criticism surrounding the film “In The Heights,” particularly regarding its lack of dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation. While the film has received praise, it has also faced backlash for minimizing the role of its only dark-skinned character and for not adequately representing the diversity within the Latinx community. Rodriguez and director Jon M. Lee have acknowledged the concerns and expressed their commitment to learning and improving in future projects.