'Romeo & Juliet' producers slam racial abuse directed at its Juliet
Newsy
The production set for London's West End in May will star Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
The theater company bringing "Romeo & Juliet" to London's West End is decrying the "barrage of deplorable racial abuse" one of its stars has experienced since the cast was announced.
"This must stop," The Jamie Lloyd Company said in an Instagram post. "We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment."
The statement didn't indicate which member of its cast was receiving the hateful response, but it's assumed to be about Francesca Amewudah-Rivers.
Less than two weeks ago, the actress was announced as the production's Juliet, starring opposite Tom Holland as Romeo. Her comments section and that of the "Romeo & Juliet" Instagram page soon became full of vicious, racist remarks, and the option to respond has since been turned off on many posts.