Rita Moreno has released a statement to The Hollywood Press reporter talking about remarks she made Tuesday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, saying she is “extremely dissatisfied” with herself for glossing over issues of representation from the Afro-Latino neighborhood in Warner Bros. musical In the Heights.
Asked about criticisms of In the Heights over a lack of darker-skinned Latinos among its core characters, Moreno, 89, defended the movies creator/producer Lin-Manuel Miranda (who likewise produced the documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It).
Said Moreno: “Im merely stating, cant you simply wait a while and leave it alone?”
The remarks drew reaction on social media for being an insensitive reaction to the Afro-Latino population; Moreno was even trending on Twitter on Wednesday as a result of the debate.
Quickly after landing in Los Angeles from a flight from New York, Moreno provided this statement:
While making a statement in defense of Lin Manuel Miranda on the Colbert Show last night, I was plainly dismissive of black lives that matter in our Latin community. In addition to praising Lin for his fantastic film variation of In the Heights, let me add my gratitude for his level of sensitivity and fix to be more inclusive of the Afro-Latino neighborhood going forward.
Moreno next functions as executive manufacturer for Steven Spielbergs remake of West Side Story, in which she likewise plays the function of Valentina. Some Twitter criticism pointed out that she was darkened with makeup to play the function of Anita in the 1961 movie version of the Broadway musical that won her an Oscar. Moreno has previously stated she frowned at being darkened for the part, adding, “It wasnt my color.”
In January of 2019, Spielberg met with a city center of residents in Puerto Rico to talk about how he d tackle the product; some in attendance questioned if West Side Story possibly took a culturally insensitive and outdated technique to Puerto Rican culture.
The film, from Disney-owned 20th Century Studios with an upgraded screenplay by Tony Kushner, opens Dec. 21..
