Twentieth Century Fox dropped actor Kian Lawley from a Black Lives Matter movement-inspired film after a past video surfaced of the actor making racist remarks, a studio representative said Monday.
“Due to the controversy surrounding his past comments and behavior, Kian Lawley will no longer appear in ‘The Hate U Give,'” the representative said in a statement. “The studio plans to recast the role of Chris and reshoot scenes as needed.”
The online video footage in question captures Lawley using the N-word, reported the Hollywood Reporter. Lawley also made racist stereotypes. “We’re all black drinking purple Kool-aid and eating Kentucky fried motherf—king chicken,” he said in the video.
The upcoming 20th Century Fox film is based on a young adult novel by Angie Thomas. The story is about a girl named Starr who is inspired to activism after her unarmed friend was shot by a cop. Lawley was cast as Starr’s boyfriend.
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“Words have power and can do damage. I own mine and I am sorry,” Lawley said in a statement to Variety. “I respect Fox’s decision to recast this role for ‘The Hate U Give’ as it is an important story, and it would not be appropriate for me to be involved considering the actions of my past.”
Lawley claims he now plans to his voice for “positive change.”
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