Racism is rampant to date despite people being aware of how wrong it is. 

Every single day we hear news about hatred and discrimination rooted in racism, especially against Black people. The Hollywood industry is no different. 

Many people of color have spoken up about being discriminated against in the industry. Recently, Sean Blakemore shared his experience about being a black actor in Hollywood and typecasting on the basis of race. 

He sat down with People in June 2023 and talked about the upcoming season of Cruel Summer. During the conversation, he revealed how he still needed to fight for opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Sean Blakemore on typecasting and Hollywood

Blakemore told People how people of color still had to fight for equal pay. Moreover, typecasting according to race was extremely prominent.

He pointed out how people of color do not have voice equality “to not play certain roles or be typecast in certain types of roles because we are beyond that.” “We are everything,” he asserted.

He shared the importance of being able to play various characters rather than being stereotyped. He gave an example of himself as a black actor and noted, “To be a diverse actor as an African American male — tall, I’m 6’1, 220 [pounds], dark skin — they can very easily want to lock you in the box.”

Sean Blakemore talked about being a black actor and typecasting in Hollywood. (Source: Twitter)

Unfortunately, because of typecasting based on race, Blakemore has to fight the stereotype. “And you have to fight that. And you have to make sure that you’re seen as a vast character, not just a strong image,” he said.

The actor hoped that typecasting would decrease in the future and that black actors could break stereotypes in Hollywood. He encouraged the audience to look beyond race since there were many layers he, as well as other people of color, possessed.

Blakemore emphasized being able to partake and play various characters that would not lock him inside a stereotype. He said, “So I’m not [just] a Black actor. I love being a Black man — let’s be clear — but I’m an actor, so it’s [more] about: ‘Can this person portray the role, period?’”

He understood that if race had something to do with a particular role, then it is understandable. But apart from that, people of color should not be forced into just playing a stereotypical role.

He claimed, “But even then, can he or she do the role? Because it should be based upon your skillset, not your skin tone.” All in all, Blakemore simply wants a safe space for people of different races in the Hollywood industry.

Sean Blakemore’s career

Blakemore is an American actor with a recurring role as Shawn Butler on the ABC daytime program General Hospital. He started playing the part on January 21, 2011. 

For his work on General Hospital, Blakemore was nominated in 2012 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He later won the award in 2016. 

He left the show in 2015, and later, he returned to it for guest appearances in November 2015 and April 2016. In April 2021, Blakemore reprised his role as Butler once more.

Blakemore has made an appearance in episodes of shows including ER, Monk, The Shield, Cold Case, NCIS, and Bones. In recognition of his depiction of Ric Jackson in the indie romance movie Big Ain’t Bad, he received the Auds award at the Hollywood Black Film Festival.

Additionally, Blakemore starred in the TV movies Motives 2: Retribution and Blackout as well as the 2002 movie Dahmer.

Ever since the premiere of XO, Kitty, the stars Sang Heon Lee and Gia Kim have gained quite a fanbase. This happened especially after it was revealed that they were siblings in real life.

The pair have delighted fans with their adorable moments together both on and off-screen. From various interviews and heartfelt birthday tributes featuring nostalgic photos to relatable carpool karaoke sessions — the two have shared a lot of moments with their fans and followers.

During those interviews, Lee and Kim showcased that they have a very close bond with each other. However, despite being close to each other, there are certain boundaries they are unwilling to cross, particularly in Lee’s case.

Sang Heon Lee (who plays Min Ho) and Gia Kim (who plays Yuri) in XO, Kitty are brother and sister in real life! They learned English in different countries which is why they have different accents pic.twitter.com/dn3oabWrJl

— Netflix (@netflix) May 22, 2023

Recently, Lee candidly shared his most awkward and embarrassing experience on the set of XO, Kitty, and it all centered around his sister’s presence. During an interview with Netflix, the actor confessed that his sister being on set while he filmed a particular scene made him uncomfortable and cringe to an unimaginable extent.

Sang Heon Lee did not want his sister on-set 

When Lee had to do a kiss scene with Jocelyn Shelfo in XO, Kitty, he did not want his sister on set with him. He started, “I didn’t want her to be there, and, oh my gosh, it was just so awkward.”

Kim knew what her brother was about to say, so she started giggling and teasing Lee, who was cringing remembering the set and the scene. While filming his kiss scene with Shelfo, Lee saw Kim behind the DJ booth set.

He then asked her to go away while he filmed the scene, only for Kim to decline him. He said, “She was like, ‘No!’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean, no?! You want to see your brother kiss someone?’ I think that was my foremost awkward and embarrassing moment.”

Kim reassured her brother and confessed that she did not actually see him kiss Shelfo. Regardless, Lee was still awkward from the incident and said, “It’s just wrong, isn’t it? Yeah, like it was so awful.”

Gia then humorously responded, “It’s okay, darling. I have watched everything.” The video snippet was shared by Xo, Kitty’s Instagram account, @xokittynetflix.

Sang Heon Lee commented with facepalm emojis on a video of him and his sister. (Source: Instagram)

They captioned the post, “Sang Heon Lee says filming the kissing scenes in front of his sister, Gia Kim, is his most embarrassing moment.” Lee took to comment to emphasize the discomfort he experienced using several facepalm emojis.

Sang Heon Lee and Gia Kim in ‘Xo, Kitty’

Lee and Kim’s role in Xo, Kitty is quite iconic. The two are not siblings on the show and do not interact much in the show.

Kim portrays Yuri, the It girl of the show. She is confident, well-dressed, and effortlessly elegant… even if she isn’t always permitted to be that person. 

Early in the first episode, we learn that Yuri is still grieving from her parents discovering a love relationship between her and her closest friend Juliana, which caused Juliana to switch schools. 

XO Kitty.
Real Brother [Sang Heon Lee] is in absolute love with Kitty.
Kitty is in love with the Real Sistah [Gia Kim]…
What a Triage!#NETFLIX #xokitty #TeamMinho # pic.twitter.com/pXAZTfVZyZ

— Dior (@1brightvenus) May 21, 2023

A devastated adolescent girl lurks underneath the confident veneer of Yuri. Lee’s character is no less than that of his sister.

He plays the role of Min Ho, who is like the “It boy.” He is somewhat of an arrogant schoolboy who ignores Kitty, claiming not to understand English.

But in reality, he is just a guy with a tough surface and a golden heart.

Keanu Reeves is often quiet when it comes to talking about his religious beliefs. This has made his fans curious to know if he follows any religion.

Many people began assuming that Reeves was Christian because he studied at a Christian school. However, when A Daily Beast reporter asked directly about his religious beliefs, the actor provided some clarity. He explained that he had enrolled in a Catholic boy’s school for a year, primarily to pursue his passion for playing hockey.

Later in 2020, Reeves was again subjected to speculation about his Christian religious beliefs when he shared a photo of himself holding a Greek Orthodox Icon of the Virgin Mary. However, his loyal fans were quick to come to his defense, highlighting that holding an icon does not provide definitive evidence of one’s belief in Christ.

Keanu Reeves was thought to be a devout Christian. (Source: Facebook)

Moreover, following his portrayal of Prince Siddhartha in the 1993 drama film Little Buddha, the actor became the subject of rumors suggesting that he was a Buddhist. 

These rumors gained further traction when Reeves took part in a documentary titled Discovering Buddhism, where he served as a co-narrator alongside Richard Gere, a prominent advocate of Buddhism. 

In this documentary, the duo explores the principles, history, and theology of the religion, delving into its core teachings and practices. Reeves’ involvement in this project not only reinforced the speculation surrounding his connection to Buddhism but also showcased his interest and willingness to engage with the subject matter on a deeper level. 

However, even though he engaged in projects connected to Buddhism, he explicitly denied being a Buddhist and clarified, “I discovered that Buddhism teaches the absence of self and ego. I may not identify as a Buddhist, but I have certainly learned to embrace death as an integral part of a new life.”

Keanu Reeves’ perspective on religion

Although Reeves has not explicitly divulged his personal religious beliefs, he indicates a tendency towards an independent or non-conventional perspective on matters of faith.

During his appearance on The Late Show, the actor was asked about his thoughts on what happens after death. He responded, “I know the ones who love us will miss us.” Reeves intentionally avoided discussing theological or metaphysical concepts and instead emphasized the emotional repercussions of death on the living.

Likewise, in an interview with Playboy, Reeves expressed his philosophical stance on the existence of God, stating, “I don’t believe in God, but I wouldn’t call myself an atheist either. I’m uncertain about the existence of a higher power.”

However, despite his lack of belief in a deity, the actor revealed that he maintains a profound “spiritual side” within him. In a conversation with The Daily Beast, he disclosed, “I engage in practices such as prayer, meditation, and Tai Chi, striving to embrace the present moment fully.” 

Keanu Reeves’ early life 

Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to his mother Patricia (née Taylor) and father Samuel Nowlin Reeves Jr. His mother hails from Essex, England, while his father is of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, English, Irish, and Portuguese descent and is originally from Hawaii.

At a young age, his father left the family, and as a result, his mother went on to marry four times throughout Reeves’ upbringing.