Toussaint, 57, responded to the criticism in an interview with Men’s Health, following the racist social media backlash of a Black man being cast as Lord Corlys Velaryon or “The Sea Snake” in the HBO period drama. “It seems to be very hard for people to swallow,” the actor stated during the interview, which was published on Monday, August 22. “They are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy? That’s beyond the pale.” According to Variety, Lord Corlys is never explicitly described as white in George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, which the prequel series is based off of. However, because his ancestors are Valyrian and his hair is described in the books as “Targaryen white-blonde,” some expected him to be played by a white actor. Toussaint—who is known for his other roles in The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Flight of Fury—previously addressed the importance of casting diverse actors in period pieces despite the social media backlash he received. “Representation is important,” he previously stated, according to the Toronto Star. “When I was a kid, and we would watch fantasy films or science fiction films, there were no people of color in them. I mean, my friends would laugh…But the serious side of it is that you don’t feel like you’re part of the world. You don’t feel like you matter.” Toussaint also recalled filming House of the Dragon, noting that “some of the supporting artists would come up to me afterwards and be like, ‘It’s so good to see you up on that stage. It’s important for us and it’s important for children who are of color or mixed race to see this.’” In response to the racist critics specifically, Toussaint said, “History is moving in a particular way. I think those people are on the wrong side of it.” He added, “I can’t waste too much time on some keyboard warrior in his mom’s bedroom, you know, spouting out insults to me or whoever else.” House of the Dragon premiered on Sunday, Aug. 21, drawing nearly 10 million viewers and becoming the biggest series premiere in HBO history. More Pop Culture:
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