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Stories

Rita Moreno Defends Lin-Manuel Miranda Over ‘In the Heights’ Lack Of Representation

by Jane Kenney

Published June 16, 2021

Rita Moreno Defends Lin-Manuel Miranda Over ‘In the Heights’ Lack Of Representation

Actress Rita Moreno is defending Lin-Manuel Miranda after he received criticism over his In The Heights movie and the lack of Afro-Latino representation. Moreno appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote her documentary Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It when she brought up the In The Heights controversy.

“Can we talk for a second about that criticism about Lin-Manuel? That really upsets me,” she said during the segment. “You can never do right, it seems,” Moreno says. “This is the man who literally has brought Latino-ness and Puerto Rican-ness to America. I couldn’t do it. I would love to say I did, but I couldn’t. Lin-Manuel has done that really singlehandedly, and I’m thrilled to pieces and I’m proud that he produced my documentary.”

Related:

  1. Rita Moreno Apologizes For Being ‘Dismissive Of Black Lives’ After Defending Lin-Manuel Miranda
  2. Rita Moreno Responds To Backlash Of Her Appearance Throughout Her Career

Rita Moreno defends Lin-Manuel Miranda after ‘In The Heights’ backlash

scene from in the heights
IN THE HEIGHTS, from left: Dascha Polanco, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, 2021. ph: Macall Polay / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

Colbert follows up by asking, “So are you saying that while you may understand where people’s concerns come from, that perhaps it’s misplaced in criticizing him in this?”

RELATED: Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, And Russ Tamblyn Hosting ‘West Side Story’ Virtual Reunion

lin-manuel miranda
IN THE HEIGHTS, from left: producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer/producer Quiara Alegria Hudes, on set, 2021. © Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

“Well I’m simply saying, can’t you just wait a while and leave it alone?” Moreno responds. “There’s a lot of people who are Puertorriqueños, who are also from Guatemala, who are dark and who are also fair. We are all colors in Puerto Rico. And this is how it is, and it would be so nice if they hadn’t come up with that and just left it alone, just for now. I mean, they’re really attacking the wrong person.”

rita moreno
LOS ANGELES – JAN 12: Rita Moreno at the Critics Choice Awards 2020 at the Barker Hanger on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, CA / Carrie Nelson/ImageCollect

Miranda recently issued an apology following the criticism, apologizing for the lack of representation in the film, stating that he “fell short.” He continues, “I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback. 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… In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I’m truly sorry. I’m learning from the feedback, I thank you for raising it, and I’m listening.”

Watch the full clip from the segment below:

TONIGHT: Rita Moreno comments on the controversy surrounding her friend Lin Manuel Miranda and his film "In The Heights." #LSSC pic.twitter.com/4cQcvviaLf

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) June 16, 2021

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