F1 Director Confirms Simone Ashley's Role Was Cut Amid Backlash
For context, it was announced in July 2024 that Simone had been cast in the highly anticipated Formula 1 movie, which is set in the real-life F1 world and stars Brad Pitt as a veteran driver who comes out of retirement to race alongside a fresh-faced rookie, played by Damson Idris.
Simone was seen filming with Damson on numerous occasions, sparking excitement and intrigue as to how their characters might be linked in the film. She's also talked super excitedly about her involvement in the buzzy blockbuster, telling Who What Wear in March that her role had been in the works for a 'long time' and that she felt 'so grateful' to be a part of the project.
In fact, as recently as last month, Simone made an appearance in Miami to promote the movie. So, imagine fans' surprise when, just a few weeks later, reports from early screenings suggested that her role was reduced to a seconds-long cameo with no dialogue.
The whole thing stirred up a lot of backlash online, sparking discussions about the ways that actors of color have been sidelined in the past. Many fans brought up how all Manny Jacinto's dialogue was cut from Top Gun: Maverick, or how Ambika Mod talked about her post-One Day career versus that of her white co-star, Leo Woodall.
One widely shared article from Feminegra read: 'This isn't just a disappointment for [Simone's] fans. It's part of a larger, unsettling pattern in Hollywood: casting actors of color with fanfare, then quietly removing them from the spotlight… Simone Ashley's speculated brief appearance in F1 may be brushed off as a creative decision, but it fits too neatly into a wider pattern to ignore.'
Amid all this, Simone was noticeably absent from the F1 world premiere in New York last night. But one person who was in attendance was the film's director, Joseph Kosinski, who, as it happens, also made Top Gun: Maverick. When asked by People about Simone's limited role, Joseph confirmed that her storyline was cut from the final edit.
'It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use. There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn't make into the final cut,' he said. 'But Simone, she's an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again.'
Elsewhere at the premiere, Joseph told Entertainment Tonight that he broke the news to Simone himself and confirmed that her storyline was closely linked to Damson's character. The movie doesn't hit theaters in the US until June 27; however, People confirmed that Simone's part is limited to a brief onscreen appearance with 'no lines of dialogue.'
Simone has yet to publicly comment on being cut from the film, although during an interview with Elle earlier this month, she did hint that her role was 'very small.' 'I'm grateful to be in that movie,' she told the outlet. 'I got to experience many Grand Prix. I don't think I'll ever do anything like that again.'
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