Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who is set to co-star with Tom Holland in a stage production of Romeo & Juliet, has been subjected to racial abuse online. Director Jamie Lloyd strongly condemned the harassment, insisting that it must stop. “We will continue to support and protect everyone in our company at all costs,” his statement said. “Any abuse will not be tolerated and will be reported.” While the director did not mention Amewudah-Rivers by name, it was her Instagram post announcing her casting that received both supportive and derogatory comments. This production marks Holland’s return to the stage for the first time since he made his debut in Billy Elliot: The Musical when he was only 12 years old — while it serves as Amewudah-Rivers’ debut in London’s West End. The play is set to run from May 11 to August 3 at the Duke Of York’s Theatre.
