Doctor Who Star Ncuti Gatwa Responds To Racist Backlash Following His Doctor Casting

Summary Ncuti Gatwa responds to backlash on Doctor Who casting, emphasizing need for inclusive change in positions of power.

Gatwa as the first Black Doctor is part of Doctor Who's active efforts to disrupt norms with casting choices.

Despite facing hate online, Gatwa stands up for inclusive casting in Doctor Who and addresses backlash admirably.

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa responds to backlash surrounding his casting in the series. Following David Tennant’s short return to the series as the Fourteenth Doctor, Gatwa has now taken over as the Fifteenth Doctor in the series. He made his debut in the final 60th anniversary special, then appeared in the holiday special “The Church on Ruby Road,” and will appear in a full season as Doctor Who season 14 prepares for release on May 11.

In conversation with Attitude, Gatwa reacts to backlash surrounding his casting in Doctor Who. Gatwa did not seem incredibly bothered by the casting, saying “it is kind of fascinating to [him] because there’s so much energy they’re putting into it.” He then spoke on the importance of inclusive casting, emphasizing a changeover in “positions of power and in the status quo.” This change, Gatwa said, sees “people kind of malfunctioning because things are changing.” Check out the full quote from Gatwa below:

“It’s not something I’ll avidly keep up on. The hate? It is kind of fascinating to me because there’s so much energy they’re putting into it… I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing. “But another thing is that we do see a shift happening in casting, in positions of power and in the status quo. I mean, not a fast shift, things could tip over the other way a little bit quicker, but you see people kind of malfunctioning because things are changing.”

Doctor Who Is Making Multiple Active Efforts To Change Their Casting Norms

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Gatwa’s casting in Doctor Who marks the first time that there will be a Black actor playing the Time Lord on the series. Beyond this landmark casting, there is plenty to be excited about surrounding Gatwa’s role as the Fifteenth Doctor. His claim-to-fame role as Eric Effiong in the Netflix series Sex Education showed the actor’s undeniable charisma and propensity for wit, which will serve him well in the role. Unfortunately, with every bold casting move tends to come a number of people who will spread nasty hatred, which happened in Gatwa’s case.

Casting Gatwa as the first Black Doctor is far from the only way that the BBC series is making an active effort to disrupt norms with their casting. Prior to Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor role, Jodie Whittaker took on the role of the Thirteenth Doctor, marking the first time a woman played the part. Furthermore, Millie Gibson’s debut as companion Ruby Sunday made her the youngest person to play the part.

Related Doctor Who Theory: Ncuti Gatwa's Next Companion Actor Is Secretly Playing A Returning Character With Millie Gibson's Doctor Who exit already confirmed, her replacement is set to come in and travel with Gatwa's Doctor, but there could be a twist.

Doctor Who also cast transgender actor Yasmin Finney as Donna Noble’s daughter Rose in the anniversary specials. Rose’s gender identity played a prominent role in her character arc, showing Doctor Who’s commitment to making inclusive characters. It is unfortunate that some of these efforts are being met with backlash, but nonetheless admirable that Doctor Who is making these efforts. Luckily, the team also has actors like Gatwa who are willing to stand up for and speak out in favor of these changes in casting status quo, even when they personally face hate online.

Source: Attitude