Jenna Ortega embracing the interviewer who said she was Latina enough. Why is this? I never hear anybody saying they're white enough. They're not white enough, or they're just white. [00:00:16] Okay, I. This is so ridiculous. Let's give you the heartfelt moment, though, that went viral. I just wanted to say I'm one Latina to another. You're Latina enough. I don't care what anyone else says. Especially, like, as someone in the industry. Like, you've opened so many doors for people like me. [00:00:32] So you are Latina. Thank you so much for everything you do. - I really appreciate you. - What beautiful thing. You see how much that meant? The heartfelt moment there. Jenna Ortega recently sat down with BuzzFeed journalist Carolina Reynoza [00:00:48] ahead of the release of her upcoming film Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Before Ortega and her costar Catherine O'Hara spoke about the sequel to director Tim Burton's Beetlejuice. Mexican American interviewer made sure to give Ortega some encouraging words of support here. [00:01:05] You are enough. You are Latina enough. Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, has previously opened up about the importance of Latino representation in Hollywood. However, the youth star has also been subjected to criticism over the extent of her own cultural identity. [00:01:22] Back in September, Ortega sparked online discourse after video showed actor Anya Taylor-Joy, who was raised in Buenos Aires, introducing her husband to Ortega and Spanish pop star Rosalia in Spanish at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show. [00:01:39] Ortega replied in English, prompting the internet to question the actor's Latina identity independent with the reporting o the internet. You're not Latina enough. Okay, trolls. Speaking to Vanity Fair in a cover story published on August 6th, [00:01:56] the Netflix star noted that the criticism surrounding her cultural background can feel like you're just not good enough. Because I wasn't born in a Spanish speaking country. I know people have a hard time connecting with me. Ortega told the outlet. She admitted that she's felt a bit of shame over not being as in touch [00:02:15] with her roots as she would like to. I think there's a part of me that carries a bit of shame. For a second, I was almost nervous to speak about my family's background, because I feel like I was made to feel like it wasn't. Ortega continued before trailing off. [00:02:32] But also something that I'm learning is it's not my job to carry the weight of everybody who's ever had that experience. With millions watching and many people benefiting from this program called indisputable, we just need 1% of the viewers to become a paid member so we [00:02:48] can continue to bring this content to you. Now back to the show. The moment has since gone viral on social media. Fans pointed out Ortega seemingly heart warmed reaction to Reynoso's reassurance. You can tell immediately that she needed to hear [00:03:04] that one person commented on TikTok. You can tell she really appreciated this. Another fan said that touched her heart. A third user wrote. Previously, Ortega commented on the importance of the character of Wednesday being portrayed as Latina. [00:03:23] It's pretty incredible that we're actually both boriquas on our side. Yeah, that's pretty cool. That was like a nice little outing because oftentimes they cast people and it almost doesn't match up. But that's pretty cool to not only, be able to work with other Latin actors, but with someone like Wednesday. A big part of the reason why I actually took the role, aside from [00:03:42] Wednesday being a, you know, a legend and the script being enticing and, you know, all of that, I think for me, it was the opportunity to I can't really think of any other Latin character that has the reach that Wednesday does, or the impact or the love or community that she has. [00:03:58] And oftentimes I, you know, Latin characters are the sidekick or, you know, the the daughter of the cartel leader or, you know, like the housekeeper It's it's true. It's it's a lot of the scripts that I've gotten are very stereotypical or their [00:04:13] heritage is is their entire personality and they have to carry their flag. So I think it was really, really empowering and incredible to get this opportunity. And I also like give a lot of respect and appreciation towards Netflix because they made it very clear from the beginning, when this project came around that they wanted her to be Latino, which I thought [00:04:30] was really, really cool to just kind of set the standard and solidify that. But for me, yeah, I love Wednesday because she's weird. People still fall in love with her. They're obsessed with her. But then also she has this bit of representation that I never really had. Means a lot, I guess. For me, I, you know, there's not a black [00:04:52] child or person perhaps around who hasn't. I love being black, but I've even wondered this. I wonder how much easier my life would be if I didn't have to worry about. If I were white, I'd just be judged for me, my talents, my shortcomings, [00:05:08] whatever it is But because of systemic racism and bigotry and everything else that America was founded on. This wonderful young Latina actress has to carry this burden of how others view her. [00:05:25] And there's this internal debate. I'm sure there's outside trolls to Jackson who decide if you're black enough or Latina enough. It's it's part of systemic racism, whether we believe it or not. There's this ranking based on light skin, the color, the hair, the everything. [00:05:44] And it's sad to me that we're still in that place. It's also sad to me that as important as it is to represent all of our melting pot cultures, and I love that the fact that we have to be out loud with it means that we're still [00:06:01] in a certain place in America. We're still in that place because there's a lacking somewhere. So we have to be intentional about it. What say you Jackson? Well, yeah. Representation is definitely important. [00:06:17] And at the end of the day, I think this is just an example of our tribal thinking. You know, people group themselves together, and it's of benefit to us to think that we're better than other people because that can give us motivation or help to identify us as separate from other people. [00:06:33] At the end of the day, there's always going to be somebody who thinks you're not Latina enough or black enough or whatever it is. I mean, I'm half black, half white, so I've been getting that my whole life. At this point, I mean, I'm 32, so it don't really mean nothing, you know what I'm saying? Like, there's always going to be people like, oh, you're white like I am, [00:06:49] you know what I'm saying? Like, I, I am white, I'm also I'm also black. You feel me like so at the end of the day, it is what it is. And, you know, at the end of the day, people who say that they watching you and not the other way around. So if you're in a position to have some influence, you just got to keep doing your [00:07:05] best and you don't really have to draw a whole lot of attention to it. You know, if you maybe you do, maybe you don't. But people are always going to have something to say. And at the end of the day, stuff like this is pretty light and it doesn't make any type of impact at all. And it's no wonder it exists. [00:07:21] And how we tend to raise up wide eyed talented, in this case, a young woman who has this injected insecurity because of other people and what they believe she should or should not represent how she should be portrayed. [00:07:41] - She's 21. White girl? - Plenty. Yeah. I was called that, I think, two weeks ago by a gentleman from Africa, the continent of Africa. I forget which part, but he said you're. You'd be classified as a white girl where I'm from. [00:07:57] I said I'm straight out of Wakanda, baby. I don't know what you're talking about. Okay. He said no, no, no. And so I let him have it, you know, and I let him have it. I don't mean let him have it. I mean, I don't even care. Okay? I've been dealing with that my whole life, and I'm. [00:08:12] I love being black, but I love being me, too. We're not a monolithic community. Hello. Come in. All different shades and sizes.