Why did In The Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda apologize?
LIN-Manuel Miranda is the brains behind the musical-turned-movie In The Heights. Miranda was forced to apologize after the movie's representation sparked backlash. In the Heights hit theaters and is available for streaming on HBO Max on June 11. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu, who also helmed Crazy Rich Asians. The movie is centered around a bodega owner who "saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life," according to the film's IMDb page. In the Heights is set in the largely Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. Usnavi, the bodega owner, is played by Hamilton star Anthony Ramos. The cast also includes Miranda, Corey Hawkins, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace, Jimmy Smits, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and others. Miranda wrote the music and lyrics for the stage production of In the Heights, which opened on Broadway in 2008 and ran for three years. The show was nominated for 13 Tony Awards and won four, including for Best Musical. The film was initially scheduled to be released midway through 2020, but the launch was delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lin-Manuel Miranda apologized after fans criticized the film's lack of Afro-Latinx representation. Audiences noted that only light-skinned characters were cast in main roles. Miranda apologized, writing: "I hear that, without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the world feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy. In trying to paint a mosaic of this community, we fell short. I'm truly sorry." The film mostly includes Afro-Latinx performers in background and dance roles. One main character, Benny, is Black and played by the non-Latinx actor Corey Hawkins. 3 Anthony Ramos, from left, Gregory Diaz and Leslie Grace in In the Heights Credit: AP  "I started writing In The Heights because I didn't feel seen. And over the past 20 years all I wanted was for us - ALL of us - to feel seen," he continued. "I'm seeing the discussion around Afro-Latino representation in our film this weekend, and it is clear that many in our dark-skinned Afro-Latino community don't feel sufficiently represented within it, particularly among the leading roles. I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling unseen in the feedback." "Thank you for your honest feedback. I promise to do better in my future projects, and I'm dedicated to the learning and evolving we all have to do to make sure we are honoring our diverse and vibrant community. Siempre, LMM." As well as co-creating the musical, Lin-Manuel also plays Piraguero, the Piragua Guy, while the cast includes Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace and Orange is the New Black's Dascha Polanco. Teen Mom's Maci & Taylor drop $339K on 48-acre Tennessee property Exclusive FIRST PHOTOS Wendy Williams' ex's 'love child' revealed as he steps out with 'mistress'  Singer Marc Anthony also appears, as does Lin-Manuel's real life parents. The stage version of In The Heights debuted on Broadway in March 2008 and was subsequently nominated for 13 Tony Awards. It ended up winning four, including Best Musical, while it's West End version in London won three Laurence Olivier Awards in 2016.