Marvel Studios has been making strides to bring more diversity to the MCU over the past few years, but the introduction of more POC and LQBTQ+ characters has not gone without some backlash from the usual corners of the internet.
When Xochitl Gomez, who is of Mexican descent, landed the role of America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she was faced with a certain amount of online abuse, but the trolls really turned it up a notch when it came to light that America makes a reference to her "two moms" during a flashback (Chavez is gay in the comics, but the movie doesn't actually address the character's sexuality).
While speaking to The Wrap, Gomez was asked about the elements of toxic fandom she's experienced since joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and revealed that she recently met up with Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani for dinner, where they bonded "over being young, brown girls in the MCU and what that means"
"It was just nice to be able to have these shared experiences that made me feel like, OK, I’m not the only one. And especially with harassment and haters and stuff, and being able to be like, ‘OK, it’s not just me, this happens to you, it happens to a few other people as well.’ But it’s like, sometimes, when it’s in the moment, you forget, and it just becomes like this thing of like, ‘What is going on to me?' And it’s just so much worse for brown people. Because there’s layers of racism, and it’s just, it’s tough."
"And so being able to talk to [Iman] and be like, ‘You’re not the only one,’ and being able to show my support, and being able to kind of take her out to dinner, and be able to take her mind off it, be able to like release it all," Gomez continued. "And then afterwards, being able to laugh and just be like, ‘Look at the conversation we just had!’ Look at that, we’re laughing, and it’s great."
It's great to hear that Gomez has taken the negativity in her stride, and it's always nice to have someone in a similar situation to confide in.
We're expecting to see America Chavez and Ms. Marvel share the screen at some point, but we're not sure when the former will make her return to the MCU - although, provided she doesn't show up before then, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is probably a fairly safe bet.