Kelly Marie Tran Wrote a Powerful Op-Ed About Harassment and Living In a 'White-Dominated World'

Back in June, roughly ninety years ago—oh, excuse me, two and a half months ago!—it was reported that Kelly Marie Tran, the first woman of color to have a lead role in a Star Wars film, deleted her Instagram account “after facing months of harassment from angry fans” who repeatedly left racist, sexist, and otherwise cruel comments on her photos.

She did so quietly, and did not provide any commentary regarding her decision until Tuesday morning, when The New York Times published an op-ed in which she wrote about her lifelong battle with harassment and marginalization.

The words of her harassers, she writes, “seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories.” And she used to believe them, but not anymore.

“Yes, I have been lied to. We all have,” Tran writes, accusing the media, Hollywood decision makers, and fashion/beauty brands of “brainwashing” her into believing her existence “was limited to the boundaries of another person’s approval.”

She continues:

I want to live in a world where children of color don’t spend their entire adolescence wishing to be white. I want to live in a world where women are not subjected to scrutiny for their appearance, or their actions, or their general existence. I want to live in a world where people of all races, religions, socioeconomic classes, sexual orientations, gender identities and abilities are seen as what they have always been: human beings.

And then there’s this tremendous kicker:

You might know me as Kelly.

I am the first woman of color to have a leading role in a “Star Wars” movie.

I am the first Asian woman to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair.

My real name is Loan. And I am just getting started.

Read the full piece here.

[NYTimes]

COMPUTER, SHOW ME ARIANA AND PETE LAST NIGHT ON THE VMAS RED CARPET:

COMPUTER, ENHANCE.

COMPUTER, ENHANCE.

COMPUTER, TRANSLATE:

ARIANA GRANDE DAVIDSON HEART

COMPUTER, SHOW ME PAGE SIX’S TAKE:

[Page Six]

Read this story right now. It’s filled with quotes from the rudest sources!!!!!! Are all of them Brad?!

[Page Six]

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