Minorities in Comics and Other Media, etc

[Agent Z]

Saying Titans’ Starfire “Looks Like a Hooker” Is Not Good Criticism

Finally, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of it all: race. Look, before we do anything, let’s get this out. If you don’t like Starfire in Titans so far because you don’t like the costume or styling then welcome, you have joined the majority of people on the internet, including this writer. Thinking Starfire’s costume is bad =/= racism. Making racist comments about the actress playing her and harassing her about it = racism.

Let’s not pretend that this “prostitute” thing doesn’t come from the Cookie Lyon-style fur coat they put her in and the dated wig, because there is nothing about this costume signals her being a sex worker unless you are literally thinking that Starfire came to Earth in the ’70s and was stuck in that fashion. Plus, it’s already been explained that this outfit exists because the character is coming out of a disco.

People seem to really be confusing having an actual criticism of a character and a costume design with being allowed to say whatever racist/sexist thing you want without any feedback. Sorry, the two are not the same, and if you don’t want to be lumped in with those kinds of people, then don’t prop up what they are saying just because you agree with the badness of the look.

The reality is that Anna Diop was being harassed, had to turn off her comments on Instagram because of that harassment, and her fellow cast members have already come out to support her. We didn’t create that issue; racists did.

https://www.themarysue.com/starfire-costume-titans/