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“Wednesday” under criticism: Jenna Ortega filmed while COVID-positive, Tim Burton called racist 

Despite its buzz, “Wednesday” is facing backlash. Here’s two major reasons why.

Netflix’s new original series “Wednesday” released on November 23 is setting records left and right and becoming the platform’s latest hit. With excellent acting, a thrilling and sensational plot, “Wednesday” is winning the hearts of viewers around the world.

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However, alongside its popularity, “Wednesday” has also been swept up in controversies. Two biggest ones are regarding Jenna Ortega’s controversial remark and director Tim Burton’s alleged racism. 

Jenna Ortega shot her famous dance scene when she had COVID-19

The scene where Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) did a bizarre impromptu dance to The Cramp’s Goo Goo Muck quickly went viral and became one of the most memorable scenes in the entire series. However, this scene has also caused trouble.  

Wednesday

In a recent interview with NME, Jenna Ortega shocked many by revealing that she shot this scene on the first day she caught COVID-19. She said she felt like she’d been hit by a car and her throat was hurting terribly that day. She was given medicine between filming before the results came back positive. 

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After the interview, a representative of “Wednesday” production company said that the cast and crew always strictly followed COVID prevention procedures. After it was confirmed that Jenna Ortega tested positive, she went into self-quarantine. 

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However, netizens have been criticizing the production crew and the actress herself for carrying on with filming as usual despite the fact that she was showing clear symptoms of COVID. 

Racism allegations against director Tim Burton

Many viewers have accused Tim Burton of racism due to the fact that most of the villains or bullies in “Wednesday” are played by actors of color.

Joy Sunday

Two major antagonists in “Wednesday”, Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday), a mean girl at Nevermore Academy and Lucas Wilson (Iman Marson), a shady mayor’s son who is also a school bully, are both portrayed by African-American actors.  Wilson’s father is the owner of Pilgrim Land, which also sparks divided reactions in light of the historic conflicts between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims in the seventeenth century.  

Joy Sunday

Netizens are criticizing “Wednesday” for its implicit racism and prejudice against black characters. They are calling out both director Tim Burton and Netflix for being “racist”. 

Tim Burton Jenna Ortega

According to CBR, this is not the first time Tim Burton is accused of being racist. In 2016, he got backlash for casting only one black actor, Samuel L. Jackson, in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”. This was pointed out by Samuel L. Jackson himself. 

Source: NME, CBR 

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