Non-binary actor and star of Sex and the City reboot ‘And Just Like That’ Sara Ramirez has been slammed for her hateful ‘social justice obsessed’ portrayal in a scathing interview with New York magazine.
Flipping a page from the show’s traditional roots, Ramirez was cast as queer stand-up comedian Che Diaz, who takes a central role as iconic character Miranda explores her sexuality.
But their character has seemingly turned off fans, with some slamming them as the ‘most hated’ people on TV. In a scathing report after their interview, journalist Brock Collier also attacked the actors for taking their roles too far, saying they represented a ‘slightly over-the-top version’ of a modern rising star.
Criticized for their roles, Ramírez had a combative response: ‘Anyone who benefits from the patriarchy is going to be in trouble with Che Diaz.’
Sara Ramirez has played several gender-nonconforming roles in the past, most recently in non-binary comedian Che Ramirez and Just Like That
Brock Collier, Abinary journalist and MYMag feature writer, slammed Ramirez for his ‘over-the-top’ character.
Ramirez has played several gender-nonconforming roles in the past and starred in hit shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Madam Secretary.
But their part in And Just Like That drew criticism from some viewers, many annoyed by the comedian’s on-the-nose jokes.
After meeting in New York’s Central Park, a regular spot for the show’s characters, Collier said Ramirez had a lot in common with his controversial on-screen role.
‘Ramérez similarly uses words like trauma, privilege and social construct to make their various on-point points,’ Collier, who uses the pronouns they/them, writes.
They added, ‘It’s a bit heavy, or maybe just heavy’.
Notably, the Ramirez character introduces herself as a ‘queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva’ – the same description the actor uses in her Instagram bio.
Critics said they felt the character represented an over-push to include the modern show’s awakening story.
They star opposite Cynthia Nixon in her iconic role of Miranda, where the two begin an amazing relationship.
Che’s relationship with Miranda ends up being the catalyst for her split with longtime husband Steve (David Eisenberg), upsetting many loyal fans.
Asked by Collier about his own ‘mixed feelings’ about the controversial story, they say Nixon responded ‘like a therapist’ and asked ‘do you want to unpack this for me?’
“Both actors believe the backlash has more to do with the social discomfort of gender-nonconforming people, rather than a hope from actual queer people that we’ll be portrayed as less lame,” Collier wrote in a scathing review of their interview.
Ramirez stars alongside the Sex and the City icon during the reboot alongside Cynthia Nixon (right).
Ramirez and Nixon’s characters embark on a steamy lesbian relationship during the course of the show
Despite some criticism, Ramírez said they stood by their characters, insisting that it was ‘exciting to push Che into the mainstream’.
They added, ‘We were feeling anti-racist mass solidarity for George Floyd.
‘So to be aware of how important disruption is, to be aware of how important it is to wake people up from the slumber of their own comfort and privilege, was so important to me that summer.’
Earlier this year, Ramírez again addressed criticism of their character, insisting that the negative response from viewers did not affect him.
‘I’m very aware of the hate that exists online,’ he told The New York Times. ‘But I have to protect my own mental health and my own artistry.’
Speaking about blocking out the negativity and focusing on the characters and the show, Ramirez explained: ‘And it’s more important to me because I’m a real person.’
‘I’m really proud of the representation we’ve built. We’ve created a character who’s a human being, who’s imperfect, who’s complicated, who’s not here to be liked, who’s not here to be approved.’
‘They are here to be themselves.’
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