House of the Dragon stars Steven Toussaint & Bethany Antonia discuss importance of diversity

Steven Toussaint, who plays Lord Corlys Velaryon in the HBO series "House of the Dragon," addressed the racist backlash he received following his casting in the show's first season.

Toussaint stated at a press conference that the "negative response" has been overshadowed by the "praise and appreciation expressed by viewers who celebrate on-screen representation." He added, "everybody has a right to be represented"

This sentiment aligns with showrunner Ryan Condal's comments from 2022, where he acknowledged the criticism "Game of Thrones" received for its lack of diversity as a reason for casting more actors of color in "House of the Dragon." Condal emphasized the importance of creating a show that "wasn't another bunch of white people on the screen".

Bethany Antonia, who portrays Lady Baela Targaryen, echoed this perspective. She spoke about the significance of being in a major fantasy franchise, stating, "I didn't get to see that when I was younger," referring to a lack of on-screen representation for people of color.Antonia highlighted the impact of such representation, mentioning the joy it brings to young viewers who can see themselves reflected in the characters they admire.

"House of the Dragon" season two premieres on HBO Max on June 16th.