Actress Bernadette Beck, known for playing the character Peaches ‘N Cream on the popular The CW show Riverdale, has slammed the producers of the show. In a new interview, the actress claims she was cast only to make the show look diverse, and was essentially ignored by the show’s writers.
Beck tells Elle that her experience appearing in the third and fourth seasons of the show left her suffering from anxiety. She says she experienced death threats and body shaming over the portrayal of her character from the show’s fans. Beck also says her treatment by the show’s creative minds wasn’t much better.
“I get it, there’s always a protagonist and antagonist, but I never had much of a story plot or enough character development to even be considered an antagonist,” Beck said in the interview. “I was, for no reason, depicted in a very negative, unattractive light. And I’m not the first black actress to show up on set, stand there, chew gum, and look sassy and mean. I feel like I was just there to fulfill a diversity quota. It’s just to fulfill points.”
Related: ‘Riverdale’ star comes out as bi
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“I was completely forgotten in the scene more than once,” Beck adds. “The director [would] be walking off set and I’d have to chase them down because I had no idea where to stand, what to do—I just hadn’t been given any instruction. You can’t treat people like they’re invisible and then pat yourself on the back for meeting your diversity quota for the day.”
Beck also expressed criticism of the casting process that landed her the role. The producers wanted a bisexual actress for the part, not to portray sexual diversity on the show, but to reinforce negative stereotypes about sexual fluidity. In one case, her character was invited into a threesome in the school auditorium, only to agree and participate without any dialogue at all.
“When you’re in it, you’re going through the motions and you’re like, ‘Oh great, I finally get to be utilized!’” she says of the scene. “But when I saw it all put together, it made my character seem like she was down for anything.”
Riverdale will return to The CW for Season 5 next year.
alex1435
I get and understand her emotion,
what she’s talking about having worked in the film business.
Catholicslutbox
At least she’s getting paid. There are a lot of out of work actresses that would love to take her place.
She is also expecting too much from a television show with some of the sloppiest writing around.
Season one was fun, but after that…,
Cam
I can’t believe this show is still on.
Aaron
For real, this show is garbage lol
justgeo
Yeh I get it but you are not so Hot Beautiful What did you bring to the Game?
Aaron
Haha, I’m lily White and she looks waaaaaay better than most of the bland White cast. She’s super hot.
MaxH
She talks like she was the star of the show rather than a glorified background character. Reminds me of that Friends episode where Joey gets fired from playing Al Pacino’s butt because he was putting way too much thought into it. This really just comes across as someone trying to exploit the current environment.
startenout
It’s like you somehow get the point and miss it all at the same time. She was hired for the cast to be a bisexual, black presence but that was just used to point to someone in the background and say “look, we have black people!” You know, like how Josie and the mayor were important characters until they just weren’t at all. In fact, where have they been?
Texasholdem
@startenout the Josie character got sent to spinoff Katy Keane but that series was recently canceled so it’s possible she does come back to Riverdale
Aaron
Riverdale is already notorious for bad writing, directing, and acting. There are countless YouTube compilation videos dedicated to its laughably bad dialogue. I’m not surprised they lack diversity and promote biphobia. She seriously deserves better.
DarkZephyr
They aren’t bi-phobic.
KiwiJello
Get hired as a glorified extra, then get mad when they don’t make you more prominent on the show? That’s what I read. What does that have to do with race? If the show is underrepresented in areas, and that enrages you, why are you supporting it and taking a paycheck?
Another bad actor can’t catch a break and it’s EVERYTHING but the fact that they just aren’t that good at their chosen profession OR they simply didn’t get that big break. And Riverdale is freaking horrible. THAT’S what you choose to practice your art on and then take a stand about? /smh
LumpyPillows
I know people with real problems. Pass.
Tishthedish1
Hey … you should feel happy! Think of all the BET that don’t even include ANY WHITE PEOPLE IN ANY of their shows for diversity!
DarkZephyr
I love Riverdale, which is based on the Archie comics. If they had stayed 100% true to the characters the show is based on, there would be even fewer people of color. They have literally changed white characters into black, asian and latin characters, which is great. I don’t care what a disgruntled extra has to say. I don’t see why her lack of noticeability has to be related to her race. I do think we need to hear more from Josie and the former Mayor though.
frapachino
Why else would they hire you? You’re mean, ugly and have a nasty attitude, of course it was to fill a quota!
Bromancer7
Well of course, gurl. Do you think they hired you because of your amazing acting abilities? And you’re getting paid, right? Sit down.
jjose712
Not exactly a surprise. A show that hire an actor who is very obvious unconfortable playing a gay character to play the main gay character is more about tokenism than about representation