Lin-Manuel Miranda apologises for lack of Afro-Latino representation in new musical | Channel

Lin-Manuel Miranda.

• Lin-Manuel Miranda has addressed the lack of representation of Afro-Latinos in In the Heights.
• The film has received backlash for not featuring dark-skinned Afro Latinos in lead roles but using them in the background and dance scenes.
• “In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry,” wrote Lin on Twitter.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has addressed the lack of representation of Afro-Latinos in the musical In the Heights.

The film, which released in cinemas on Friday, celebrates the New York Immigrant community that raised him.

READ MORE | Hamilton creator celebrates immigrant roots with In The Heights

The film has since received backlash for not featuring dark-skinned Afro-Latinos in lead roles but using them in the background and dance scenes.

In an interview for The Root, Felice León addressed the lack of representation with director Jon M. Chu and several cast members.

When asked about the erasure of Afro Latinx people, Jon said: “I think that was something we talked about, and I needed to be educated about, of course. In the end, when we were looking at the cast, we tried to get the people that were best for those roles.

“I hear you on trying to fill those cast members with darker skin. I think that’s a really good conversation to have and something we should all be talking about.”

On Monday, the Hamilton creator posted a note on Twitter in which he wrote: “In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry.

“I can hear the hurt and frustration over colourism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback. I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy.”

The 41-year-old went on to say that he is learning from the feedback and promised that he would do better in his future projects.

“I’m dedicated to the learning and evolving we all have to do to make sure we are honouring our diverse and vibrant community,” he ended the note.

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