A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Star Confronted Racial Backlash Regardless of George R. R. Martin’s Casting Approval


One in all A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ solid members responds to having to face an unlucky development amongst main film and TV productions.

The second Sport of Thrones spinoff from HBO, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows hedge knight Dunk (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), as they make pals and alliances whereas getting ready to enter a event. One of many individuals they meet is Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), a member of a puppeteer troupe, who endears herself to each and repaints Dunk’s protect.

Tanzyn Crawford, whose earlier credit embody Swift Avenue and Tiny Lovely Issues, was met with a web based racist backlash following her introduction in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In a brand new interview with Wonderland, Crawford had a optimistic angle about being a part of the present, saying: I undoubtedly did get some negativity round race, however on the finish of the day, I am employed — and I am following my goals.

A pressure of viewers took to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms due to it apparently being “non-woke,” primarily specializing in the white, male characters of Dunk and Egg, and Tanselle’s outstanding position clashed with this. Whereas criticism of Crawford’s casting is prejudiced regardless, she can also be capable of say that it was with the blessing of franchise creator George R. R. Martin himself.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery

[Martin told me] ‘You are precisely what I pictured [for Tanselle]’,” Crawford shared.The fantastic thing about Tanselle on this collection is she’s a softer outlet. The remainder of the present may be very manly, fairly harsh and brutal. I feel she’s self-confident and has her personal little passions and worlds which might be very separate from everybody else. In fact, her storyline entails Dunk, however she has her personal factor occurring.

It was intimidating to step into one thing that individuals are so linked to, love a lot, and have lots of opinions about,” the star additionally mentioned. Disappointingly, racism in the direction of non-white solid members is frequent amongst main, beloved franchises which might be creating new characters and including installments within the modern-day.

There’s a lengthy, unfavourable historical past of this among the many Star Wars fandom, as an example. The casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel within the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid and Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth within the rebooted Percy Jackson and the Olympians collection prompted comparable reactions.

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1’s ending, Tanselle quietly leaves the event together with her household after being attacked by Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) to keep away from additional hassle. The character doesn’t seem in The Sworn Sword, Martin’s subsequent Dunk and Egg novella, which is anticipated to be the idea for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2. Thus, it’s unknown if Crawford will ever return to the present.

The actor, nevertheless, did simply signal onto Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Murderer’s Creed, doubtlessly indicating how the high-profile position of any half within the Sport of Thrones franchise might have helped launch her profession to its subsequent stage. Whereas that is one more occasion of unfair therapy of a gifted solid member, Martin and others have praised Crawford’s efficiency, highlighting her as a helpful a part of the hit present.

All episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms can be found to stream on HBO Max.


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Launch Date

January 18, 2026

Community

HBO

Showrunner

Ira Parker

Administrators

Owen Harris

Writers

George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker

  • Headshot Of Peter Claffey

    Peter Claffey

    Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall

  • Headshot Of Dexter Sol Ansell


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