Ryan Guzman Blasted By Co-Stars After Admitting Using Racial Slurs
Racial tensions continue to rise in the United States and celebrities are finding themselves in the midst of uncomfortable conversations as they reveal racially-charged incidents they were previously involved in. The latest celebrity to put their foot in their mouth is 9-1-1 cast member Ryan Guzman.
According to Us Weekly, the 32-year-old was holding an Instagram Live where he admitted using racist slurs among his friends. After saying that he has friends of different races -- “black, white, Asian, Indian...Korean” -- he said that they use racial slurs amongst each other without getting “butthurt.”
Guzman made the revelation after his fiancee, Chrysti Ane, was revealed to have used the n-word in tweets that resurfaced from 2011. Ane apologized for her tweets and explained that she was 16 at the time and that she felt accepted by the black community. Just like Guzman, she says that her friends did not find it offensive but she also now realizes that back then she did not realize the seriousness of the word.
Guzman’s costars on 9-1-1 have come out to decry his revelation. Entertainment Weekly reports that 9-1-1 actors Oliver Stark and Aisha Hinds have spoken out against Guzman’s use of racist slurs.
In a tweet, Stark said there is “no excuse for the use of the n word.” He said that the word belongs to the Black community and that he did not agree with it being used by anyone else. Hinds, on the other hand, said she feels grief every day and that behaviors like the one exhibited by Guzman should be “named and neutered” so they are not repeated in the future.
Guzman eventually went on his Instagram account and said that he had calmed down and clarified that he does not condone the use of the n-word and that he and his friends were instead using “stereotypes” rather than “slurs.”
The actor’s actions come at a time when celebrities have come out to protest the racially-charged death fo George Floyd. Floyd died while being arrested by Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd’s neck while he was pinning him on the ground.
Some of the celebrities who participated in the George Floyd protests include Halsey, Timothee Chalamet, Tessa Thompson, Machine Gun Kelly, Ariana Grande, Cole Sprouse, Tinashe, Miguel, Kehlani, Emily Ratajkowski, and Paris Jackson.
Hundred of cities have erupted into protests because of Floyd’s death, including Los Angeles, California; Washington D.C., Oakland, California; New York City, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Tucson, Arizona; Hartford, Connecticut; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Boise, Idaho; Louisville, Kentucky; and dozens more.