Actor and brand new Timothée Chalamet love interest Eiza González is taking heat for appearing on screen in blackface for what she says was the first television role of her career. The
Baby Driver star spent 2007 playing Dolores 'Lola' Valente in a Mexican soap opera-esque teen telenovela called
Lola: Érase una vez. Screenshots of González in character reveal that showrunners decided that their star should wear blackface at some point during the production. Following the news that González has been
romantically linked to Chalamet, photos of the blackface episode surfaced on social media, prompting González to issue an apology.“I am deeply sorry and ashamed about having worn blackface makeup shown in the images circulating,” she told
Page Six. “As a 15-year-old child actor on my first job in a Mexican telenovela, I was pressured against my will, and with no negotiating power, I could not advocate for myself in the situation. I wish I had the voice and knowledge then that I have now.” The apology holds some water. At 15 and new to the TV industry, it would be intimidating to speak up — which is why, in Canada, child actors must have a guardian on set if they’re under the age of 16. It’s their job to advocate for underage performers. Where are the apologies from the showrunners, directors, and producers (aka the adults who were in charge)?[video_embed id='1983708']RELATED: Looks like Timothée has a new love interest[/video_embed]For her part, González is making a promise to do better. “As a Mexican woman and an immigrant, I have faced racism and ignorance throughout my life and career. I would never intentionally participate in anything that I knew would cause harm or distress to another person,” she said. She also apologized for an incident in which she donned geisha wardrobe and makeup, calling it “an intercultural exchange” but recognizing how it can easily be seen
as appropriation.“It is seen as an appreciation of their culture,” she said of her experience in Japan, where young
local Japanese women dressing up as geisha, especially near the Gion district in Kyoto, is commonplace. “I understand that out of context, this calls for a dialogue about contemporary cultural appropriation,” added González. “More than gestures of apology, it is my responsibility to educate myself and use my voice to stand up for others... I deeply apologize for hurting anyone.”Stars coming forward with these types of mea culpas seem to have become a near-daily occurrence (see: Tina Fey, Jimmy Kimmel,
Jimmy Fallon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, etc) and the apologies always ring truer when they come with no excuses and from a genuine place, rather than from the pressure being applied by social media.[video_embed id='1984151']RELATED: ‘Scrubs’ removes three episodes featuring Blackface[/video_embed]
