Elesha Nicholls
For the second time this week, plans by Humber’s student union IGNITE to host a guest speaker in Toronto fell apart after Thursday’s event with Gina Rodriguez was cancelled.
Rodriguez is an American actress who was under fire by the public last October for singing a racial slur within a song by The Fugees and later posting it onto Instagram.
Many people at the time took to Twitter to voice their disapproval over the video.
Before Rodriguez was invited to the college’s North Campus, IGNITE had originally scheduled actress, radio presenter, and writer, Jameela Jamil, best known for her role on the hit TV show The Good Place.
The event was going to touch base on her career, her struggles, and would allow humber students to ask the actress questions.
On Wednesday evening, IGNITE sent out an initial email to students letting them know that Jamil would be unable to make it to the Real Talks event due to “unforeseen circumstances” but had someone to fill her place. That person was Rodriguez.
Later that night, IGNITE send out another email stating that “due to events beyond IGNITE’s control, we have to cancel tomorrow’s Real Talks with Gina Rodriguez.”
This swift action may have happened because of the backlash the student union may have received online. In now deleted tweets students of Humber were in disbelief that the actress was being allowed into the school to speak.
As of Friday, IGNITE hasn’t been able to be reached for comment but did issue an apology on their website for students who “were looking forward to this event”.
The next Real Talks event is scheduled for March 21 at the Lakeshore Campus, the guest will be actor, and TV personality Terry Crews.