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Union: Hollywood denied my beauty for being Black
9 Oct
Summary
- Union felt invisible due to discrimination based on her looks.
- She was deemed suitable as a supporting character, not a lead.
- Wade consistently supports Union's public discussions on challenges.
Actress Gabrielle Union has publicly discussed facing discrimination in Hollywood due to her physical appearance. She revealed that her features, such as having darker skin and coarser hair, made her feel invisible and not considered a 'classic beauty.'
Union explained that her look was deemed acceptable, but not so striking that it would overshadow a white lead actress. This perception relegated her to supporting roles, often as 'the friend' character.
She also described feeling a constant duality of being hyper-visible yet invisible on set, struggling with how to address micro-aggressions without being labeled as 'the angry Black person.'
Throughout these career challenges, Union has consistently found support from her husband, NBA legend Dwyane Wade. She has been open about various personal struggles, including past assault, financial issues, and fertility challenges, with Wade standing by her side.
