Ada Maris, a Mexican actor who has appeared in numerous productions since the 1980s including 'Mayans MC', writes an open letter slamming the role's one-dimensional and stereotypical portrayal.
- November 12, 2021
AceShowbiz - Netflix has decided to drop a Latina housekeeper role on "Uncoupled", a new comedy series starring Neil Patrick Harris. The decision was made after Mexican actor Ada Maris spoke out against Carmen, which she described as "offensively stereotypical" character.
Ada Maris, a Mexican actor who has appeared in numerous productions since the 1980s including "Mayans MC", wrote an open letter slamming the role's one-dimensional and stereotypical portrayal. "When I opened it and saw that it wasn't even funny - it was hurtful and derogatory - I was shocked because I walked in expecting something very different given the way things are nowadays and the progress we've made," Maris explained.
"You are modern gay men. How would you like to watch or play an outdated, offensively stereotypical gay part?" she continued to blast Harris, who serves as the executive producer of the series, and creator Darren Star. "Sometimes people have to sit with the discomfort. I would hope they would rethink this. I would hope they would recognize the harm that it does to everyone. Both to people who are Latino and people who are not."
Maris added, "I'm just fed up. I just want [writers] to think the next time they write a character like that. I'm speaking out for the younger actors coming up so they face even less of that than my generation has."
Carmen is described as Harris' character in the first episode of the series. According to Variety, she was initially being "hysterical" on the phone with Harris' character, who is a successful fortysomething single man in New York after his husband of 17 years dumps him. Speaking in broken English, she reported to Harris' character, "Mister, I just get here and they stole! They stole! They rob you! I don't know how they get in."
In another scene, Carmen is taking a glass Harris' character leaves at the sink, while saying, "No, I do that. You don't clean good, you always leave a ring."
In response to the letter, a Netflix spokesman told the outlet, "We're sorry that Ms Maris had a negative experience, and this character will not appear in the series."
