Gina Rodriguez Gets Emotional Over Backlash to Her Comments On Black Women

People came after Gina Rodriguez after the actress made comments that sparked debate on social media. 

Gina was part of a panel with Ellen Pompeo, Gabrielle Union, and Emma Roberts for Net-a-Porter when the issue of racial pay equality came up:

“I get so petrified in this space talking about equal pay especially when you look at the intersectional aspect of it, right?” she said at the time. “Where white women get paid more than black women, black women get paid more than Asian women, Asian women get paid more than Latina women, and it’s like a very scary space to step into.” 

Her comments sparked backlash from the black community, some of whom feel she was ignoring how Latina actresses have been getting higher payments in the industry. 

Sofia Vergara, a Latina actress from Colombia, is one example. Sofia is the highest paid actress on TV right now. 

Gina clarified her comments on Sway in the Morning’s SiriusXM radio show: 

“I never said actresses, I wasn’t speaking about my industry,” she clarified. “I always find it difficult to talk about equal pay as a woman who makes a substantial amount of money. As somebody who came from poverty to now the amount of money I get paid, it doesn’t feel right that I’m the one talking about it, because I’m so damn grateful. What I was saying, was that when we talk about equal pay, we have to talk about intersectionality because we all must rise.”