Roxane Gay, the co-writer of the “Black Panther” comic was noticeably absent from the movie’s star-studded premiere this week.
While attendees were required to arrive at the purple carpet in royal dress code, the person that provided the inspiration for movie was excluded from the event.
The #BlackPanther premiere dress code: “royal attire requested” pic.twitter.com/dylemOACKe
— Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) January 30, 2018
Love this so much! @JanelleMonae killing it tonight in Siriano Pre-Fall2018 at the #BlackPanther premiere! This look was meant for her. #Queen #janellemonáe pic.twitter.com/cVVWc96eZA
— Christian Siriano (@CSiriano) January 30, 2018
David Oyelowo and Donald Glover at the #BlackPanther world premiere. COME THROUGH, COLOURS!!! pic.twitter.com/RlgpuDiBPH
— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) January 30, 2018
.@Lupita_Nyongo works the purple carpet. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/mjxnSECAhx
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) January 30, 2018
The “Bad Feminist” writer watched pictures of the event surface online and hopped on Twitter to air her grievances.
My feelings are real hurt that I didn’t get an invite to the Black Panther premiere. I mean goddamn Marvel. Goddamn.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 30, 2018
I’m still thrilled about the movie and can’t wait to see it.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 30, 2018
And I mean. It’s fine. I’M not fancy. Just admitting that my lil feelings were hurt.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 30, 2018
She notes that the comic and the movie are involved in different realms but it’s important to keep in mind that the movie wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Gay’s work. “Whew. Had something come up yesterday,” she said on Twitter. “But. This was just a tweet. It wasn’t meant to become a thing. I was just sharing a personal [loss], you know, pulling the curtains back. The comics and movies are different entities. I just felt, as I said, bummed to not be invited.”
Whew. Had something come up yesterday. But. This was just a tweet. It wasn’t meant to become a thing. I was just sharing a personal L, you know, pulling the curtains back. The comics and movies are different entities. I just felt, as I said, bummed to not be invited.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 31, 2018
She noted that she will continue to support the film’s cause and encouraged her Twitter followers to “support the movie enthusiastically.”
I hope you alll support the movie enthusiastically. By all early accounts, is incredible. And a lot of black work and creativity went into its making.
— roxane gay (@rgay) January 31, 2018
Roxane Gay and her cowriter, Yona Harvey made history in 2016 after they were named the first black female comic writers for Marvel, yet neither were invited to this week’s purple carpet event. Marvel has not disclosed a reason for keeping the two away from the premiere.
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