Leslie Grace, who is Afro-Latina and depicts Nina in the film, ended the interview by stating: “I believe that this is cracking that glass ceiling, since I do intend to see my siblings and bros who are darker than me lead these motion pictures.”
” I can hear the hurt and aggravation over colorism, of feeling still hidden in the feedback. I hear that without adequate dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted a lot to represent with pride and joy,” Mirandas declaration continues. “In trying to paint a mosaic of this neighborhood, we fell short. Im genuinely sorry. Im gaining from the feedback, I thank you for raising it, and Im listening.”
Miranda ended his statement by stating he will “do much better” in his future ventures.
” Im trying to hold space both for the indelible pride in the motion picture we made and be accountable for our shortcomings. Thanks for your sincere feedback,” Miranda wrote. “I guarantee to do much better in my future projects, and Im devoted to the knowing and progressing all of us need to do to ensure we are honoring our vibrant and diverse neighborhood.”
Read Mirandas complete statement listed below.

“In the Heights” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is attending to criticism over the movies lack of Afro-Latino representation.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Miranda excused not consisting of more dark-skinned Afro-Latinos in the movies cast, specifically in the leading roles.
” I began composing In the Heights because I didnt feel seen. And over the previous 20 years all I wanted was for us– ALL of us– to feel seen,” Mirandas declaration starts. “Im seeing the conversation around Afro-Latino representation in our movie this weekend and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino neighborhood dont feel adequately represented within it, especially amongst the leading functions.”
The discussion Miranda points out comes from a video post in The Root, released on Wednesday, which explains that there are no dark-skinned Afro-Latinos in the films leading roles. In an interview with “In the Heights” director Jon M. Chu and stars Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera and Gregory Diaz IV, reporter Felice León questioned the films casting choices. “What would you state to folks who say that In the Heights advantages light-skinned and white-passing Latinx individuals?” León asked, to which Chu replied: “I would state thats a fair discussion to have. Listen, were not going to get whatever right in a motion picture. We tried our best on all fronts of it.” The Root article keeps in mind that Miranda did not concur to be spoken with by them on the topic.

I hear that without adequate dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the neighborhood we desired so much to represent with pride and delight,” Mirandas declaration continues.

And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us– ALL of us– to feel seen,” Mirandas statement begins. The conversation Miranda mentions stems from a video article in The Root, released on Wednesday, which points out that there are no dark-skinned Afro-Latinos in the movies leading roles. The Root article notes that Miranda did not concur to be talked to by them on the topic.

– LMM pic.twitter.com/CHfdLgFUz3
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 14, 2021