- “The Walking Dead” cast, crew, and creator are vocalizing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
- The show, in its 10th season, has a diverse cast ranging in gender, race, and sexuality.
- Colman Domingo (“FearTWD”) shared a personal essay on Deadline. Norman Reedus joined protestors in Los Angeles.
- The comic’s social accounts, @thewalkingdead, run by Skybound, posted in support of Black Lives Matter. After losing some followers, the company stood its ground.
- “#TWDFamily prides itself on its diversity. And if you want to leave over this, then ✌🏽”
- Skybound is polling its employees to determine three organizations to donate to this week.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Over the past week, the cast and crew of the AMC series and larger “Walking Dead” universe have thrown their support behind the Black Lives Matter movement, with some joining protests across the nation.
On Wednesday, the comic’s social account, doubled down on its support, even if that meant losing followers.
Looks like we lost quite a few followers after posting about #BLM. We hope those who left educate themselves on these vital racial issues and learn to stand alongside their Black neighbors. #TWDFamily prides itself on its diversity. And if you want to leave over this, then ✌🏽
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) June 3, 2020
"Looks like we lost quite a few followers after posting about #BLM," the tweet said. "We hope those who left educate themselves on these vital racial issues and learn to stand alongside their Black neighbors. #TWDFamily prides itself on its diversity. And if you want to leave over this, then ✌🏽"
The tweet was a response to posts over the past few days where the Skybound-run account has openly supported Black Lives Matter.
http://instagr.am/p/CA1HDo_AvKMhttp://instagr.am/p/CA6hHRnAZt_
"To our fans and friends: when a part of the community is in danger, we all are. Let's stand together with the Black community. Share with us organizations that deserve and need our attention. Share with us what you're reading, listening to, etc. to highlight diverse voices. Let's make sure that we do not become complicit in racial injustice," reads part of the message from Skybound.
When challenged about why a comic company was posting about the Black Lives Matter movement, the account pushed back: "because when a race of people has felt the knee of oppression on their necks for generations without systematic change, then it's incumbent on everyone, especially people with large platforms, to push back and stand up for what's right."
The cast (past and present), crew, and more from #TWDFamily have been speaking out
"The Walking Dead" cast and others who work on the AMC show have been speaking out online and at protests. The message from #TWDFamily has largely been that if you're going to support a show with a diverse cast, you need to support the people who make it up.
"Fear TWD" star Colman Domingo shared a personal essay with Deadline. You can read it in full here.
"It isn't easy to live in this brown body. I am talking to all my friends and colleagues to say, yes, this is a problem and it has always been here. I have never had the privilege to think otherwise. This world has repeatedly shown me. You might think that when one is a public person that it cancels out the fear. My black friends know better. Everyone is overdue to stand up for what is right. Use your voices to say loudly that Black Lives Matter. No one who loves me can sit this one out. The price will be heavy for our future if we do. To my casts, crews, producers, production companies, et al…you can't look away anymore. I won't let you."
Khary Payton, who plays King Ezekiel, said he wants people to see him and realize he matters before they recognize him as "that guy from that show."
— Khary Payton (@kharypayton) May 30, 2020
"I feel so ineffective," Payton wrote. "I want to help you understand that #blacklivesmatter does not mean that yours doesn't. I want to help you understand that we can hate the violence we see in the streets and still be upset about what it erupted from. I want to help you understand that after nearly 50 years of living, I would like to drive my fairly nice car in my own neighborhood without being accused of having stolen it. I want my life to matter before they realize, "Oh you're that guy from that show." Some of you are gonna take this the wrong way but I'll keep trying. That's all any of us can do. #staysafe"
Angel Theory has called for justice while discussing the discrimination she has seen on the streets while outside.
My hometown being set on fire..trashed.. people being sent to jail,pepper sprayed and beaten up..My family is out there..I’m pissed ,heartbroken and ANGRY..but I will keep praying and FIGHTING with love. If our lives mattered we wouldn’t have to keep reminding you. 💔💯
— Angel Theory (@IamAngeltheory) June 2, 2020
"My hometown being set on fire..trashed.. people being sent to jail,pepper sprayed and beaten up..My family is out there..I'm pissed ,heartbroken and ANGRY..but I will keep praying and FIGHTING with love. If our lives mattered we wouldn't have to keep reminding you. 💔💯" tweeted Angel Theory.
On Wednesday, Angel Theory captured and shared a video showing a man "making gorilla noises while beating his chest" at two black officers.
https://twitter.com/IamAngeltheory/status/1268180333721202694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If you don't know where to start, Sydney Park has suggested reading "Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America," which you can find here.
"For all of you non-Black people and white people out there who need to educate themselves and have their Amazon Prime reading lists about black people and what not to say and what not to do, this next image I'll have in my story is for you," said Park on her Instagram story. "It's about the double lives that African American women live in America. We have to wear many masks. We have to constantly be self-conscious about our hair and wearing it to work and being fired for wearing our natural hair to work and wearing braids... and having to shift when you're in a room full of all white people and all white men in an office, on a conference call, and constantly living in a state of invisibility as a black women. That being said, for all you white people out there who are just not getting it, I think you can step up."
Lauren Ridloff, who plays fan-favorite Connie, encouraged others to "donate and self-educate" about black men, children, women, non-binary people, trans women, and trans men.
http://instagr.am/p/CA2o4wUnQXO
Sonequa Martin-Green, who played Sasha, has been encouraging people to vote and providing resources to take action along with suggestions of what to watch.
http://instagr.am/p/CA9ReNElJ5r
"It's mighty powerful to post, but it's not enough, for any of us. There's a lot here," wrote Martin-Green on Instagram. "If you truly want to do more but are daunted by these lists, don't be discouraged but consider them a starting point. (If you weren't aware, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has now taken over George Floyd's case, it is no longer District Attorney Michael Freeman.) I encourage us all who are available to listen in on the NAACP's tele-townhall tomorrow featuring Rep Val Demings (D-CA) and others. I also encourage us all to VOTE. I encourage us all to continue educating ourselves. I encourage our non-Black #allies to continue having or start having difficult conversations with your family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances and associates. I encourage us all to NOT LET UP, even if/when this charged moment passes."
In addition to giving experts a platform to speak about COVID-19, Danai Gurira, who had played Michonne since season three, shared the words of President Obama.
I am thankful for this great man’s words and his suggestions on how we can harness our collective power to create real change. Thank you Mr. President. https://t.co/cZMBv43fmU
— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) June 1, 2020
Norman Reedus joined protestors in Los Angeles.
https://twitter.com/tipado/status/1267984845650538497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Iron E. Singleton, who played T-Dog on early seasons, has encouraged people to vote and shared what it was like for him growing up on Instagram.
http://instagr.am/p/CA8TCfKgxzP
"When I was growing up in the projects, the instigator would put a rock or stick on the shoulder of an individual and dare the person opposing the individual to knock it off then step back out of harms way to watch them destroy one another. I grew to be very leery of the instigator/agitator/disruptor because I knew he didn't care about me or the person I was fighting," he wrote.
"TWD" showrunner Angela Kang has encouraged followers to vote and have your voice heard in primaries.
Black lives matter. #blackouttuesday https://t.co/giXVIMXALP pic.twitter.com/rfRC6TwWZT
— Angela Kang 강효신 (@angelakang) June 2, 2020
"TWD" creator Robert Kirkman said we need to "open our eyes to injustice" to progress.
The #TWDfamily is only a family if all members enjoy the same level of safety, security & prosperity. Let’s all do the work needed to open our eyes to injustice so we can turn this time of hate into a time of learning and hopefully, progress. #BLM https://t.co/7Ltw5gz5xX
— Robert Kirkman (@RobertKirkman) June 3, 2020
Skybound is polling its employees to determine three organizations to donate to this week.
Insider reached out to AMC to ask if it's planning any donations and has reached out to Skybound for comment.