Is Idris Elba’s ‘Luther’ black enough? This BBC diversity chief says “no”
We don’t even know how to start off this article because the fact that someone this stupid exists in this world makes us want to crawl back to bed and not leave. Earth’s a write-off. Go away, aliens. The diversity chief of the BBC certainly proves that people are still dumb as sin. On Wednesday, April 14, BBC diversity chief Miranda Wayland said that Idris Elba on Luther was not “Black enough”.
She said that DCI John Luther, played by Idris Elba to award-winning praise, “doesn’t have any Black friends, he doesn’t eat any Caribbean food, this doesn’t feel authentic.” Lady, stop digging that hole. It just keeps growing with every word. She added that want to make sure Luther “is authentic in terms of the storytelling.” You can’t tell someone what is and is not “Black enough”.
Why? Well, that comes down to the individual rather than a societal construct. Instead, Miranda Wayland is promoting bad stereotypes with her reasoning. This, you know, isn’t great given the whole her position is diversity flippin’ chief. Besides no one has had a problem with Luther or Idris Elba in the role. It’s one of the best-regarded shows made by the BBC.
Let’s take a look at what Twitter is saying on this subject. Because trust us, they have some feelings.
“Luther isn’t black enough to be real because he doesn’t have any black friends and doesn’t eat any Caribbean food”.
We just knew that a diversity chief would be a waste of time & ££s, didn’t we? The worry is that we haven’t reached peak idiocy, yet. https://t.co/VeT5mSNnEu— Christina Jordan (@CJordanjb) April 14, 2021
Get your money back
Miranda Wayland needs to lose a job.
Yesterday, it was implied I’m not black enough because I didn’t have any black friends in my photo.
Today, BBC’s diversity chief says @idriselba’s Luther “isn’t black enough” because “he doesn’t have any black friends”.
These lazy stereotypes are racist!https://t.co/sIDc7c0pnL https://t.co/bpQhEIKOfA
— Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) April 14, 2021
Learn these lessons
This is rather a common wrong complaint. Again, someone’s Blackness comes down to how they define it.
“Luther isn’t black enough to be real because he doesn’t have any black friends and doesn’t eat any Caribbean food”
When you see groups through the prism of stereotypes this is the insulting outcome. Would she prefer to see Luther dunk basketball hoops at the end of every scene? https://t.co/s6esjoCMbQ
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) April 14, 2021
It’s stereotyping
It all comes down to wrong stereotypes, Wayland, that you want to feed into. Fire. Her.
“Luther isn’t black enough to be real because he doesn’t have any black friends and doesn’t eat any Caribbean food”
When you see groups through the prism of stereotypes this is the insulting outcome. Would she prefer to see Luther dunk basketball hoops at the end of every scene? https://t.co/s6esjoCMbQ
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) April 14, 2021
Luther is fine
Seriously Idris Elba in Luther is not the problem. How the press treated Meghan Markle, for example, is part of the problem.
The police turn on Luther every chance they get. How is that NOT an authentic black character?
— Femi😷 (@Femi_Sorry) April 14, 2021
Not wrong at all
And, well, whoop there it is.
I just read the BBC’s head of diversity Miranda Wayland says Idris Elba’s TV character Luther isn’t black enough to be real because he doesn’t have black friends or eat Caribbean food. Just because Luther likes pie ‘n’ mash instead of jerk chicken doesn’t make him any less black!
— BermondseyBoy5.0 (@LovelyGeezer65) April 14, 2021
Yes, that is the correct statement.
Behold, someone who gets the real effing point.
Turns out Idris Elba is white so maybe he can be the next James Bond now. https://t.co/7XUAGcyNnF
— @sirfrank (@sir_frankuk) April 14, 2021
Checkmate
Listen, can we get Idris Elba as James Bond from these Luther comments?
Ok hear me out lol. People like that character exist but I don’t know any. On the flip side did we witness all his meals and see all his friends? lool Just give us more Luther man and please don’t ruin the show https://t.co/jqbb4Pq9uq
— Genesis Elijah (@GenesisElijah) April 14, 2021
Luther is fine
Seriously though don’t try to “fix” the show.
So if I’m keeping up, Idris Elba was “too street” to play Bond, but isn’t “Black enough” as Luther.
Got it. Certainly not an impossible standards situation. This is one of the most popular Black men in the world and he still gets this shit.
— Riley Silverman (@rileyjsilverman) April 14, 2021
Behold the double standard
No one can win in this situation.
