Posted on May 11, 2022 at 9:57 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Author Rick Riordan was thrilled with the casting for the upcoming Disney+ adaptation of his Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels.

He's less than thrilled with the reaction of some readers, though, who objected to the casting of a Black actress to play a character described as white.

In a blog post, Riordan explained in great detail that Leah Jeffries is the perfect person to play Annabeth Chase and told those complaining need to examine their prejudices.

"You are judging her appropriateness for this role solely and exclusively on how she looks. She is a Black girl playing someone who was described in the books as white," he wrote. "Friends, that is racism."

CNN reports that the author also started the Twitter hashtag #LeahisOurAnnabeth to defend the twelve-year-old actress against the online bullying and harassment he said she's been enduring.

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Categories: Today in Books

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