Whoopi Goldberg tells racist fans to 'get a job' after House Of Dragons black actors were trolled

Whoopi Goldberg has slammed racist fantasy fans who have trolled black actors cast in both Game Of Thrones’ prequel House Of Dragons and The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power.

House of Dragons star Steve Toussaint recently spoke out about being attacked by racist trolls who claimed he didn’t live up to author George RR Martin’s portrayal of his character in the novel the series is based on.

Meanwhile, Ismael Cruz Córdova of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power addressed racist trolling he received while his co-star Lenny Henry condemned fans who have a problem with black cast inclusion.

Addressing the racial backlash on both shows, Whoopi, 66, pointed out that both programs are set in fictional worlds when speaking on US talk show The View.

The Sister Act star urged trolls to “get a job” as she slammed them for accepting “dragons and hobbits” but not black actors cast in the shows.

“We would like to see as many people represented in the fantasy as there are. So everyone who has problems because there are black hobbits… Get a job! Look for a job! Go find yourself because you’re focusing on the wrong things,” she said.

The new Lord of the Rings series The Rings of Power and the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon are both big hits, but they don’t exist in the real world. There are no dragons, there are no hobbits, you know that.”

She added: “There are critics who say [the shows] have been woken up with the addition of various characters. Are you telling me that black people can’t be fake people too? Is that what you’re telling me?’

Fellow The View host Sunny Hostin joined Whoopi in condemning racist trolling and expressed her confusion over criticism of HBO prequel Game of Thrones and Amazon Prime Video series Lord of the Rings out.

She said, “What I find fascinating is that dragons are okay, fire-breathing dragons and people with white hair that’s born that way when they’re little and violet eyes, but the blacks in them are just a bridge away too.” these people.’

Her comments come after black actors in both franchises recently hit back at the nasty criticism and trolling they have faced.

Rings of Power and the new Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon both feature a more expansive cast, but some trolls have criticized the diverse cast.

House of the Dragon star Steve Toussaint responded to racist trolls who claimed he did not live up to author George RR Martin’s portrayal of his character in the novel the series is based on.

Set 172 years before the events of the original series, the Game of Thrones prequel series delves into the history of the legendary House of Targaryen.

The story was created by Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal and is based on part of Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood.

In the HBO Max series, Steve, 57, plays Lord Corlys Velaryon – the leader of House Velayron, one of House Targaryen’s closest allies and the wealthiest house in Westeros, and a good friend of King Viserys.

He is the captain of a ship and is described by Vulture as “the most skilled navigator in the history of the Seven Kingdoms”, having embarked on a series of famous voyages to distant lands referred to as the Nine Voyages.

However, some people were unhappy with Toussaint’s casting, feeling that he did not fit Martin’s description of his character.

But Toussaint has responded to the nasty critics, stating that people “of his color” made up a large part of the story.

“So many people base their idea of ​​the history of this country on some movies and stuff that was done in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s that bear no resemblance to the truth,” he told Men’s Health recently.

“Historically, folks of my ilk and yours, we didn’t just show up here in the ’70s or ’60s.

“There was a point when the ruler of his country, ‘the Caesar’, was an African. There are street names saying that even back then there were people in this country who looked like us, but for some reason it seems very hard for people to swallow.

“They are happy when a kite flies. You’re happy with white hair and violet eyes, but a rich black guy? This is beyond the pale.’

Steve reminded people that the show isn’t meant to be exactly like the book, and he admitted he hadn’t even read it before starring as Lord Corlys.

“George Martin sent us all the signed copies of the book. I wanted to read it, then I thought no. What I have to portray is what they wrote in the script,” he explained.

“You’re going to be taking liberties with it for dramatic purposes. So I didn’t want to read his interpretation or know what happened to my character.

But he said he’s “taking it all up” and feeling “sanguine” about the whole thing, adding that “for every toxic person, there have been so many others who have been so supportive”.

And on set, he said he felt nothing but love and support, adding, “Even when we were shooting certain scenes, there were supporting artists that came and went. ‘It’s great to have this representation.’

Elsewhere, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays a Silvan elf named Arondir, has spoken out about the racist trolling he has received.

Ismael was cast as the first-ever black elf in the franchise but said he was subjected to “pure and vicious hate speech” online.

He told Esquire, “I fought so hard for this role for exactly that reason. I felt I could carry that torch. I made sure my elf was the most Elvish, the most incredible, because I knew this was coming.’

And his co-star Lenny Henry has also spoken out about racism within the fantasy genre when he stars as the hobbit Sadoc Burrows in The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.

The 64-year-old actor said efforts are being made to make the genre more “inclusive” after the original Lord of the Rings films didn’t feature black characters.

In a recent interview with GQ, Lenny said: “They have no problem believing in a dragon, but they have trouble believing that a black person could be a member of the court. Or that a black man could be a hobbit or an elf.”

“Actually, storytellers can do whatever they want, because they are storytellers. In reinterpreting these stories from 1000 years ago, they are not part of the canon that everyone knows, this is a reinterpretation and reweaving of history.’