As protests against racism skyrockets worldwide, the world’s most popular entertainment industry, Hollywood, has taken the chance to show that it doesn’t tolerate any form of racism from anyone.
They have revealed that shows have been cancelled and star staff have been fired from series after making racist and other insensitive comments as part of their measures to support and fight for equality and racial justice.
Celebrities, too, make mistakes and are not immune to bigotry and discrimination and therefore, also not immune to the punishments that follow.
Here’s my list of stars who have been fired for being racist since the death of George Floyd.
Alex Kompothecras (“Siesta Key”)
Alex Kompothecras was kicked out of “Siesta Key” for using the N-word on social media in the past.
MTV officially shut out the reality TV star on June 16 for alleged racist social media posts. According to US Weekly, Kompothecras used a racist word in a resurfaced Instagram post from 2013, along with approving comments about other racist users.
“We’ve made the decision to cut ties with Alex and are editing the current season to minimize his presence,” the official “Siesta Key” account said on Twitter.
Jessica Mulroney (“I Do, Redo,” “GMA”)
A close friend of Meghan Markle, Jessica Mulroney saw her Canadian reality TV show “I Do, Redo” pulled off the air on June 11 after allegedly threatening to end the career of Black blogger Sasha Exeter. And ABC’s “Good Morning America” tweeted that she would no longer appear on the show as a fashion contributor.
In an Instagram live video, Exeter said Mulroney “took offence to a very generic call-to-action that I shared on my IG stories,” resulting in a written threat to end her career.
“‘I have also spoken to companies and people about the way you’ve treated me unfairly,'” Exeter says Mulroney wrote to her.
The CTV network announced that “I Do” has been cancelled.
Peter Hunziker (“Below Deck Mediterranean”)
Peter Hunziker was fired from ‘Below Deck Mediterranean’ for posting a racist and misogynistic meme.
According to Variety and Daily Mail, the reality star, who played the lead deckhand in Season 5, posted a meme of a naked Black woman in chains on social media.
On Wednesday, Bravo announced on Instagram that Hunziker “has been terminated for his racist post.”
Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni (“Vanderpump Rules”)
Bravo also cut four members from the reality TV series “Vanderpump Rules” for racist acts.
Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired June 9 after co-star Faith Stowers revealed the two had falsified a police report about her in 2018.
“They called the cops and said it was me,” Stowers said on Instagram Live, referring to a Black suspect accused of bribing and drugging others.
In a separate incident, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni were removed from the series after racist tweets from 2012 resurfaced, in which both had used racists words on multiple occasions.
Bravo and producer Evolution Media confirmed on Twitter that all four of the reality stars had been fired.
Hartley Sawyer (“The Flash”)
The “Flash” star was fired from the CW superhero drama after a series of his past tweets resurfaced. While Sawyer’s Twitter account has been deactivated, the 35-year-old actor drew criticisms for posts from 2012 to 2014, referencing assault, misogyny, homophobia and racism.
In a statement, CW, producers Warner Bros. Television, Berlanti Productions and Eric Wallace, confirmed that Sawyer would “not be returning for Season 7 of ‘The Flash.'”
Adam Rapoport (Bon Appetit)
Bon Appétit editor in chief Adam Rapoport was forced to resign from the magazine after a 2013 photo of him using “brownface” for a Halloween costume resurfaced. He was seen wearing a Bronx baseball cap, Yankees shirt and platinum chain with the caption “#TBT me and my papi @rapo4 #boricua.”
In a since-deleted post, the former editor announced his resignation on Instagram, writing “I am stepping down as editor in chief of Bon Appétit to reflect on the work that I need to do as a human being and to allow Bon Appétit to get to a better place.”
Rapoport has been replaced by interim editor Amanda Shapiro.
Abby Lee Miller (“Dance Moms”)
“Dance Moms” coach Abby Lee Miller had her Lifetime show, “Abby’s Virtual Dance-Off” cancelled amid accusations of racism during Season 8. Former contestant Adriana Smith accused Miller of making numerous bigoted comments during the show.
“A statement from her that sticks in my mind to this day during my time on DMS8 is ‘I know you grew up in the HOOD with only a box of 8 crayons, but I grew up in the Country Club with a box of 64 – don’t be stupid.'” Smith wrote on Instagram. “This to me shows that you think you are better than me and in higher rank and all together superior to ME!”
Kannie Yu LaPack, a spokeswoman for Lifetime, told USA TODAY that “we currently do not have plans to air the show.”
