Penn Badgley wants to see more diversity in Hollywood.
Speaking with PinkNews about his hit thriller series “You”, which was recently picked up for season 2 on Netflix, the 32-year-old actor reveals that he wants to see less white actors cast in roles that represent oppressed groups.
“If anybody exists at any kind of intersection of oppression beyond the box of white male, I’d say let’s make damn sure that they’re being represented by the people who have lived this experience [and] not have people who haven’t lived the experience portraying them,” the former “Gossip Girl” star says.
Badgley adds, “In reality, we have basically, like, privileged a** white people playing everybody, and so we need to stop that.”
Related: Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford Talks Possible ‘Gossip Girl’ Reunion
Expressing his desire to see change with casting in the entertainment industry, he says, “In theory, in a totally just society, yeah, anybody can play anybody and that would be great,” adding, “But, that’s not the world we live in. We live in a world that does not recognize virtually anyone outside of the white male or the beautiful white woman who has to be the object of desire and affection.”
Back in July, Scarlett Johansson backed out of a role in “Rub & Tug” following backlash over her role as a transgender man. More recently, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” star Darren Criss revealed he would not be portraying gay characters moving forward.
The actor, who previously played serial killer Andrew Cunanan, reportedly told Bustle, “There are certain [queer] roles that I’ll see that are just wonderful. But I want to make sure I won’t be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.”
