A morning news anchor found herself at the center of criticism when she called Black actors “colored people.”
Amy Robach covered the controversy surrounding Zendaya’s casting as Mary Jane in the new “Spider-Man” reboot. While addressing Hollywood giving roles of Black characters to white actors, she referred to Black stars with the outdated term.
“Now we all know Hollywood has received recent and quite a bit of criticism for casting white actors in what one might assume should be a role reserved for colored people,” Robach said on Good Morning America Monday. “Is this potentially the industry trying to right itself doing something right? What do you make of this move? Could it be in reaction to all of that negative press before?”
Black Twitter largely reacted in disbelief over the Georgia native’s comments.
Jill Karshell thought GMA needed to teach Robach about proper terminology.
Colored people? Really? @GMA PLEASE educate your journalist! Mistake? Let's hope so. #GMA #epicfail #amyrobach pic.twitter.com/0XIPDXSxlG
— Jill Karshell (@JillKarshell) August 22, 2016
Jordan Warren hoped someone pointed out the error.
Has someone told @arobach that she said "colored people" in the #Spiderman/@Zendaya story on @GMA this morning? I hope so!
— Jordan Warren (@misterjordanow) August 22, 2016
User FABWP threatened to find a different news show to watch each morning if Robach uttered the phrase again.
Ok @GMA please talk to #amyrobach. If she says #coloredpeople again I'll have to find a new a.m. program to watch-she gets a pass this time
— FABWP (@_fabwp) August 22, 2016
MaryJo Robinson wondered how the program would respond.
@arobach WHAT THE HELL DID AMY ROBACH JUST SAY?
DID @arobach just refer to blacks a "colored people " how Wil @gma handle this?— MaryJo Robinson (@dolliedimple) August 22, 2016
ZsaVette Ellis-Frye tweeted GMA should let Robach know that the phrase is “highly offensive.” She recorded her reaction to the anchor’s statement with the hashtag #ZendayaWillSlayAsMaryJane.
https://twitter.com/ZsaZsa_ATL/status/767693021278269440
@neicilaw thought she had traveled to a different decade.
First time in a while I turn on #gma and I hear @arobach say "colored people" in a story. So apparently I woke up in the 1950s 🤔 #really
— Cinnamon Says 🌺 (@neicilaw) August 22, 2016
Tori Lynn also questioned the current decade.
@GMA Did that fool just say "colored people"? Are we in the 60s? WTH? #amyrobach #gma
— The Catwalk Assassin (@victorialj1908) August 22, 2016
@Msleeturner1 said she “got floored” by Robach’s description of African-Americans.
I was just watching my dvr GMA, and got floored. Amy just called ppl of color, COLORED PEOPLE! REALLY Amy?! That's sooo racist! #StopRacisim
— Ms. L. Turner (@Msleeturner1) August 22, 2016
While Shannon admonished the reporter.
Someone from @GMA should probably tell @arobach we don't say "colored" people anymore in 2016. Shame on you. #goodmorningamerica #gma
— Shannon ✊🏾 (@ATLFalconGirl) August 22, 2016
According to Atlanta Black Star producers cast Zendaya, whose mother is white and father is Black, as the webbed superhero’s love interest. Typically, white actresses play the character. When news broke that the Disney Channel star would be involved in the upcoming film, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” many voiced their irritation.
https://twitter.com/keksec__org/status/766439989341216769
Still, others were happy about Zendaya’s participation.
https://twitter.com/PBNtweets/status/766407051547324416
Update: Robach has apologized for her phrasing, calling it a “mistake.”
In a statement released to the Associated Press after GMA‘s broadcast this morning, the anchor said she meant to say, “people of color.” She mentioned the phrase “colored people” was “not at all a reflection of how I feel or speak in my everyday life.”