Move over, Logan Paul.
Another talent-free YouTube star would log to steal some of your negative headlines for a few hours.
Kian Lawley, a social media sensation with over 3.3 million YouTube subscribers and over six million Twitter followers for some reason, has been fired from the upcoming film adaption of “The Hate U Give.”
Per Variety, this is what a Twentieth Century Fox Films spokesperson said about the decision, which comes two weeks after a video surfaced online of Lawley saying lots of racist stuff:
Due to the controversy surrounding his past comments and behavior, Kian Lawley will no longer appear in The Hate U Give.
The studio plans to recast the role of Chris and reshoot scenes as needed.
The controversy cited above centers on a 12-second bleeped video on YouTube that made the Internet rounds in January.
It features Lawley very clearly using a racist slur and making other racially-offensive remarks.
“We’re all black drinking purple Kool-Aid and eating Kentucky fried motherf-cking chicken,” he says in the clip.
Check it out here:
Lawley had been scheduled to appear in the aforementioned movie as the boyfriend of Amandla Stenberg’s character.
The film is a widely anticipated release because it’s based on a critically-acclaimed young adult novel by Angela Thomas.
It tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who feels torn between the worlds of her poor and largely black neighborhood… and the suburban prep school she attends.
She later witnesses the murder of her childhood pal at the hands of a police officer.
Such big-time names as Issa Rae, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Algee Smith, Lamar Johnson and Common are also attached to the project.
Shortly after the scandalous footage went viral, Lawley apologized for the video, Tweeting:
“if u don’t learn from ur mistakes, u can never grow as a person.
“i’ve learned a lot & i am grateful to have the power to change. i never want to be who i was yesterday. we’re in a constant battle to become a better version of ourselves, use ur voice as ur weapon.”
He also now says he agrees with the studio’s decision to drop him from the film.
Said the young star in a statement:
“Words have power and can do damage. I own mine and I am sorry. I respect Fox’s decision to recast this role for The Hate U Give, as it is an important story, and it would not be appropriate for me to be involved considering the actions of my past.
“I understand the impact and I have grown and learned since then. From now on I plan to use my voice for positive change.”
However, just because Lawley has acknowledged his mistake and accepted his punishment, this doesn’t mean his fans have done the same.
Many have bombarded Thomas with hate in light of this recast.
“Y’all are screenshotting me and coming at my friends without knowing the details of the situation. There is so much more that you don’t know, and I’m honestly sad for you.
“But I’m unprofessional?” the author Tweeted this week.
As you can see above, it looks like Thomas has faced an onslaught of misguided abuse.
She’s clearly pained about what transpired with Lawley, but she also is clearly NOT the person to blame here.
Give her a break, Kian Lawley fans, and realize that your very own hero has taken some responsibility for his awful actions here.