Steve Toussaint ‘was racially abused on social media’ after he was cast in House of the Dragon

Steve Toussaint says he was the target of racist attacks after he was cast as Corlys Velaryon on the forthcoming HBO show House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel.

The British actor, 57, told The Hollywood Reporter he underestimated the response when he was cast in the first prominent role for a person of color in the Game of Thrones universe.

‘When I got the gig, I literally was like, “It’s just another role because I have Black friends who had small parts or recurring parts in’ Game of Thrones,’ Toussaint told the outlet. ‘I didn’t realize it was a bigger deal until I was racially abused on social media when it was announced. Yeah, that s*** happened.’

Touissant said that one person called him the N-word and others had made art to mock his casting on the series.

He recalled an instance in which a fan said that he’d experienced the same vitriol when defending Toussaint’s casting on the show.

Said Touissant: ‘There was also a Black American chap who is a big fan of the show who contacted me saying that he gets abuse because he championed me for the part.

‘On platforms like Reddit, which I’m not on, there are such discussions going on about it. I was like, “Oh wow,” and then I thought, “Okay, this means a lot to some people,” but I can’t allow that to bother me.’

Touissant plays the role of Corlys Velaryon on the Game of Thrones prequel 

Toussaint said that while he acknowledges ‘in that sense, it’s a big deal,’ he’s looking to move forward 

Toussaint noted that he’s heard from various colleagues in the entertainment industry who have also been the target of racist messages after being placed into high-profile roles.

He said that someone he’s ‘known for a long time’ was the recipient of racist messages after getting a role on a Marvel project.

‘A friend of mine who played Hermione in the stage version of Harry Potter, she got it,’ Toussaint said. ‘I’ve worked with John Boyega, and he got it. If it bothers you so much, don’t watch.’

This past May, Moses Ingram of the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi said on social media of receiving racist messages: ‘There’s nothing anybody can do to stop this hate. I question my purposes in even being here in front of you saying that this is happening. I don’t really know.’

Toussaint noted that he’s heard from various colleagues in the entertainment industry who have also been the target of racist messages after being placed into high-profile roles

The actor said he thinks ‘there is certainly more color in’ House of the Dragon

Toussaint told the outlet that while he acknowledges ‘in that sense, it’s a big deal,’ he’s looking to move forward.

‘We have a saying that today’s headlines are just tomorrow’s chip paper; people forget about it,’ said the actor.

Toussaint told the outlet he thinks ‘there is certainly more color in this show.

‘For me, it’s a good thing. We must never forget it’s a fantasy, and it’s based on medieval law and so forth. But it still has to reflect a world. And I think this does that. I loved Game of Thrones … but my only caveat was, “Where’s everybody else in this world?”‘

He said that House of the Dragon creator George R.R. Martin has created ‘a diverse world … if you look [beyond Westeros] at the whole thing’ and that ‘this show comes closer to that.’

House of the Dragon is slated to debut on HBO August 21 at 9/8c.