During the first season of "True Detective," the HBO series came under fire when people online alleged that the show didn't have enough female roles.
Season two isn't even out yet, and already similar accusations are being thrown around. This time, from Chris Rock- who penned a piece in The Hollywood Reporter about the state of black entertainers in Hollywood. Namely, that they're underserved and not getting the opportunities that they deserve.
Opportunities like a spot in "True Detective."
Says Rock in the piece, "Or how about True Detective? I never heard anyone go, "Is it going to be Amy Adams or Gabrielle Union?" for that show. I didn't hear one black girl's name on those lists. Not one. Literally everyone in town was up for that part, unless you were black. And I haven't read the script, but something tells me if Gabrielle Union were Colin Farrell's wife, it wouldn't change a thing. And there are almost no black women in film. You can go to whole movies and not see one black woman. They'll throw a black guy a bone. OK, here's a black guy. But is there a single black woman in Interstellar? Or Gone Girl? Birdman? The Purge? Neighbors? I'm not sure there are. I don't remember them. I go to the movies almost every week, and I can go a month and not see a black woman having an actual speaking part in a movie. That's the truth. "
Rock has a point- nearly all the characters in both season of "True Detective" are white- the only notable exceptions being the two cops from the present-day timeline in the first season, played by Michael Potts and Tory Kittles.
Already, Rock's essay is being lauded online- for example, Bustle says "The whole thing is well worth a read," while Hello Giggles calls it "a scathing and smart essay." Between this and an equally-celebrated interview with Frank Rich, Rock's on a roll right now.
Check back soon for the latest news on Chris Rock.
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