Steve Toussaint plays Lord Corlys Velaryon in HBO’s House of the Dragon. The show, a spinoff to the highly successful Game of Thrones, saw massive ratings and positive reception following the premiere on Aug. 21. However, the reception wasn’t as warm for Toussaint. Game of Thrones was commonly criticized for its depiction of people of color, and House of the Dragon has attempted to correct HBO’s past mistakes.
However, racist viewers have begun trashing the show for its casting choices. Corlys Velaryon is described as having “Targaryen white-blonde” hair in Fire & Blood, the book by author George R.R. Martin on which House of the Dragon is based. However, Velaryon dons the Targaryen white hair in the series, yet specific viewers are still not pleased. Toussaint points out the ridiculousness of their statements, noting far more unrealistic things happen in the lands of Westeros.
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During an interview with Men’s Health, the actor discusses racist backlash and why he believes it means very little to the overall series.
“It seems to be very hard for people to swallow. They are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich black guy? That’s beyond the pale.”
Toussaint notes that most of the fan base has been very kind to the actor, saying, “there are so many others who have been so supportive.”
“What has been wonderful is for every toxic person that has somehow found their way into my timeline, there have been so many others who have been so supportive and been like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t wait, this is going to be great!’ Even when we were doing certain scenes, there would be supporting artists who would come up and go, ‘It’s great to have this representation.”
House of the Dragon will surely be one of the biggest series on television for years to come, and representation within the show won’t hurt anyone. House of the Dragon premieres on HBO Max every Sunday at 9 pm E.T.
What Will We See From Corlys Velaryon in House of the Dragon?
HBO
Anyone who has seen Game of Thrones knows the mind of George R.R. Martin works in mysterious ways. Essential characters can be killed at any moment, and alliances are constantly broken and forged again as houses repeatedly stab each other in the back as they seek the Iron Throne. Toussaint hints at the direction of his character in the series during his Men’s Health interview, saying, “This season is a lot about interpersonal relationships, political maneuvering, and is slightly more intimate than Thrones at its height.”
Related: Why House of the Dragon Should Move Beyond the Mistreatment of Women
“He’s all about legacy and about getting as close as possible to the throne. This season is a lot about interpersonal relationships, political maneuvering, and is slightly more intimate than Thrones at its height. Whoever survives, we have a grounding with them. If you get to know who they are now, then the stakes are that much higher. But by the time I’d read the final scene, there were some things in it that had me like, ‘oh, you can’t do that!'”
Unless you’ve read Fire & Blood, fans will have no idea how long Toussaint’s character lasts or anyone within House of the Dragon. Game of Thrones episodes like Baelor in Season 1 and The Rains of Castamere in Season 3 prove no one will ever be safe in the Thrones universe. So enjoy the characters while they last because it may not be for long in House of the Dragon.
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