F1 Movie Sparks Backlash: Simone Ashley's Role Severely Cut. Fans are outraged over the significant reduction of Simone Ashley's role in the new Formula 1 film. The Bridgerton and Sex Education star's reduced presence, confirmed by director Joseph Kosinski, follows a similar controversy surrounding Manny Jacinto in Top Gun: Maverick. Critics cite this as another example of Hollywood's erasure of actors of color
Simone Ashley, the British-Indian star of "Bridgerton" and "Sex Education," faces backlash after her significant role in the Formula 1 film was drastically cut to a silent cameo. Director Joseph Kosinski confirmed the reduction, sparking accusations of Hollywood's erasure of actors of color and echoing similar experiences, like Manny Jacinto's in "Top Gun: Maverick." Advance screenings revealed the substantial cuts, contradicting Ashley's earlier promotional interviews
Simone Ashley's drastically reduced role in the Formula 1 movie sparks outrage, fueling accusations of Hollywood's erasure of actors of color. Despite featuring prominently in promotional materials and attending multiple F1 races for filming, Ashley's role was cut to a silent cameo. This follows a similar pattern, with actors of color often sidelined in final edits after being heavily featured in trailers and marketing. The incident echoes Manny Jacinto's experience in "Top Gun: Maverick," raising concerns about equitable representation in Hollywood
Simone Ashley's drastically reduced role in "F1," echoing Manny Jacinto's experience in "Top Gun: Maverick," sparks outrage. Both actors, Ashley ("Bridgerton," "Sex Education") and Jacinto ("The Good Place"), underwent extensive preparation—Ashley attending Formula One races, Jacinto undergoing flight training and rigorous fitness—only to see their screen time slashed to near-invisibility. This fuels concerns about Hollywood's continued erasure of actors of color, with Ashley's prominent pre-release promotion contrasting sharply with her minimal, non-speaking cameo in the final film. Director Joseph Kosinski, who helmed both films, attributes the cuts to standard editing practices
Director Joseph Kosinski clarifies Simone Ashley's reduced role in "F1," stating the cuts were standard editing practices and praising Ashley's talent. He confirms that several storylines were ultimately removed, a common occurrence in filmmaking. This follows recent criticism regarding the apparent downplaying of Ashley's character, echoing similar controversies surrounding other actors of color in Hollywood films
Director Joseph Kosinski addresses the reduced role of Simone Ashley in "F1," explaining that extensive footage was cut during post-production, a common occurrence in filmmaking. He confirms several storylines, including Ashley's, were ultimately removed from the final cut, despite praising her exceptional talent as an actress and singer, expressing his desire to collaborate with her again
Fan outrage erupted over director Joseph Kosinski's explanation for significantly reducing Simone Ashley's role in "F1." Critics point to a pattern of Hollywood's erasure of actors of color, noting that the reward for their talent often becomes reduced screen time or complete removal from films despite participation in promotion. One social media user highlighted this, stating that actors of color are "getting cut from movies and shows" despite strong performances
Manny Jacinto's reduced role in "Top Gun: Maverick" highlights the need for more diverse representation and storytelling by and about people of color in Hollywood. His experience, involving extensive training and ultimately a drastically cut role, mirrors similar concerns surrounding the erasure of actors of color
Hollywood's erasure of actors of color continues: Manny Jacinto's minimized role in *Top Gun: Maverick* and Simone Ashley's reduced part in *F1* highlight the urgent need for diverse representation behind and in front of the camera. As one actor powerfully stated, we must create our own stories; we can't wait for Hollywood to do it for us. This proactive approach empowers Asian Americans and people of color to shape narratives that reflect our experiences and demand the bigger, more inclusive stories we deserve
Simone Ashley's reduced role in the Formula 1 film "F1" sparks controversy. Despite prior promotional appearances, her part was significantly cut, prompting accusations of Hollywood's erasure of actors of color. While Ashley hasn't publicly commented on the cuts, her past remarks about her "small" role and experience filming echo similar experiences faced by other actors of color, like Manny Jacinto in "Top Gun: Maverick." This situation highlights a broader pattern of actors of color being sidelined despite initial promotional involvement
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“I grew up watching romcoms and I never really found many where there were women like me, who looked like me, leading them and playing the love interest,” she told Drama Quarterly in 2024. “I wanted to do that. I wanted to make a movie where I was the heroine in that sense of a romcom, the Bridget Jones.”
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