‘Doctor Who’ star Ncuti Gatwa criticizes the praise of white mediocrity while black people have to be ‘flawless to get half that mediocrity’

Actor Ncuti Gatwa recently spoke out about the unequal pressure that Black people face in Hollywood and other industries compared to their white counterparts.

“There is so much white mediocrity that is celebrated,” Gatwa said in an interview with “Postawa” magazine.. “And Blacks, we have to be absolutely flawless to get half (of that) anyway.”

The “Sex Education” actor shared how he’s training himself to unlearn the belief that to be loved he must adhere to the standards of black perfection. Instead, he said, he learns self-acceptance and that he “deserves love just by existing.”

“So yeah, I think I’m just now learning, ‘Oh, you’re allowed to be loved,’” Gatwa continued. “You don’t have to be perfect or aspire to the term ‘black perfection.’ What the hell?”

Gatwa, who also appeared in “Barbie,” is the first black man to be solid as the Doctor in “Doctor Who,” the series’ fifteenth. (He was preceded by British actress Jo Martin, who played the Fugitive Doctor, the first black woman to be solid). He told Attitude about the backlash he received in 2022 after announcing his future role, noting that people were “very angry about something so insignificant.”

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Gatwa said he sees “a change taking place in staffing, positions of power and the status quo.”

“It’s not a quick change, things could turn around a little faster, but you can see that people are acting incorrectly because everything is changing,” he added.

Last 12 months Gatwa spoke to Hollywood reporter about his preparation for hateful criticism and the increased media attention since the casting reveal. He said at the time that his goal with Doctor Who was to “focus on the work and stay true to what the Doctor is: a mad scientist from outer space who has adventures and cares about everyone.”

The recent season of “Doctor Who” will premiere on Friday, May 10 and can be available on Disney+.