Kaipot Dudoit will now play David Kawena in ‘LILO & STITCH’.
The recast comes after Disney uncovered racial slurs used by Kahiau Machado, the original actor set to play David, during the vetting process.
Machado had a Spotify playlist titled N**** noise” and referred to himself as “Sandy n****”.
On April 21, THR reported that Disney confirmed the casting of Kaipo Dudoit as Nani’s boyfriend David, after it was previously announced that Kahiau Machado would take on the role. According to THR, Machado was replaced after posts using racial slurs, specifically the N-word, were found in the actor’s social media history during Disney’s vetting process. (THR notes that Disney never officially confirmed Machado’s casting.)
Soon after the news broke of Machado’s replacement, “Recast Nani” began trending on Twitter. Hundreds of fans began to call for Disney to “recast Nani next” in reference to the whitewashing and colorism accusations that sparked in response to actress Sydney Agudong’s casting. “Good. Now recast Nani immediately,” wrote on fan on Twitter on April 21. “And give us the dark skinned Hawaiian beauty we all desire.”
Fans previously criticized the casting of Sydney Agudong as Nani, accusing filmmakers of colorism by casting the light-skinned actress instead of a Native Hawaiian. (Agudong was born in Hawaii but is not Native Hawaiian.) Now, the casting of Nani’s love interest, David, is under public scrutiny.
The account was soon scrubbed, but it’s preserved on the Internet Archive. Machado and Walt Disney Studios have so far neglected to comment on the inappropriate Spotify playlist.
Lilo & Stitch will premiere in late 2024 or early 2025, starring Chris Sanders as Stitch, Zach Galifianakis as Pleakley, Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles, and Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Other beloved characters like Jumbaa, Myrtle, and the Grand Councilwoman have yet to be cast.The account was soon scrubbed, but it’s preserved on the Internet Archive. Machado and Walt Disney Studios have so far neglected to comment on the inappropriate Spotify playlist.
Lilo & Stitch will premiere in late 2024 or early 2025, starring Chris Sanders as Stitch, Zach Galifianakis as Pleakley, Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles, and Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Other beloved characters like Jumbaa, Myrtle, and the Grand Councilwoman have yet to be cast.
A live-action version of the 2002 Disney animated movie Lilo & Stitch is officially in the works, but many fans are not happy with the casting decisions.
As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has completed casting for three of the film’s main roles. Young newcomer Maia Kealoha will play Lilo; Sydney Agudong will play Nani, Lilo’s older sister and guardian; and newcomer Kahiau Machado officially joined the project as David, Nani’s love interest, on April 17.
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