‘One Piece’ Season 2 and ‘Bridgerton’ Star Charithra Chandran Confronts Casting Backlash and Racism (Watch Video)

Following her high-profile casting as Miss Wednesday in the second season of Netflix’s One Piece, actor Charithra Chandran has opened up about the complexities of navigating global fame, racist social media backlash, and the weight of South Asian representation in major franchises. The actor, who rose to international prominence as Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton, joins the live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s record-breaking manga during a period of heightened scrutiny over casting diversity in fantasy and anime adaptations. ‘One Piece’ Season 2: Release Time, Cast and Every Episode Title for Netflix’s Grand Line Debut.

Charithra Chandran Addresses Racist Backlash

While the announcement of Chandran’s casting was widely celebrated as a milestone for South Asian visibility, it was also met with targeted online hostility from segments of the fandom. In a recent conversation with India Today, Chandran spoke candidly about the experience, refusing to downplay the impact of digital prejudice. "Unfortunately, when you are a person of colour, racism is the nature of the business," Chandran stated. "You could be minding your own business and still be exposed to it." Despite the resilience required to maintain a public profile, Chandran admitted that the frequency of such encounters does not diminish their effect. "It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. But at this point, I’m so used to it," she noted.

Charithra Chandran Responds to Online Backlash

To manage the pressures of a global production, Chandran emphasised the importance of disconnecting from digital discourse. She advised other women of colour in similar positions to prioritise their real-world connections over social media sentiment. "Don’t listen to what happens online. Those people aren’t real," she said. "The only people who matter are the ones truly in your life." The actor highlighted that this personal philosophy helped her align with her character’s journey in the series. "That’s kind of how I relate to the character too. You’ve got to push through. Keep going. The naysayers don’t matter," Chandran added. ‘One Piece’ Season 3 Confirmed: Alabasta Arc, Release Date, Cast and Plot – All You Need to Know.

Charithra Chandran Brings Fresh Take To Miss Wednesday

Miss Wednesday, a character deeply embedded in the One Piece lore, carries significant expectations from a fanbase that has followed the source material for over two decades. Chandran's approach involved a balance between honouring the original text and establishing a unique performance. While she "mined the manga and anime" for essential cues, she clarified her intent to bring a fresh perspective to the role. "I’m not here to imitate what’s already there," she explained. "I wanted to do justice to Oda Sensei’s work... But the team really emboldened me to trust my instincts and make the character my own."

Watch Full Interview Here:

'One Piece' Season 2 Expands Cast

One Piece Season 2 continues the story of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates as they navigate the Grand Line. The series remains one of Netflix’s most successful live-action adaptations, noted for its high production values and the involvement of original creator Eiichiro Oda as an executive producer. The new season features returning leads Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson and Taz Skylar. Joining Chandran as new cast members for the current arc are Mikaela Hoover, Rigo Sanchez, Yonda Thomas and James Hiroyuki Liao. One Piece Season 2 is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 02, 2026 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).