Yahoo Finance In The Heights: Lin-Manuel Miranda admits new musical ‘fell short’ in representing community
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has admitted he “fell short” after being criticised for a lack of Afro-Latino actors in the lead roles for his film In The Heights.
The musical is adapted from his stage show of the same name which refers to Washington Heights, a predominantly Latino neighbourhood in New York City.
Miranda, who produced the film and had an on-screen role, issued an apology on Twitter after criticism over a lack of darker-skinned actors.
He said: “I started writing In The Heights because I didn’t feel seen. And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us — ALL of us — to feel seen.
“I’m seeing the discussion around Afro-Latino representation in our film this weekend and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don’t feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly among the leading roles.”
Miranda, whose stage shows have been praised for moving away from an Anglo-centric view of America, said he could “hear the hurt and frustration”.
He said: “I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy ... we fell short. I’m truly sorry.”
The film has been a critical hit but has disappointed at the box office, taking in $11.4 million (£8 million) over its four-day opening in the US.
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