Part 5/11:
This statement, coupled with her political beliefs, raises questions about the ideological motivations behind her casting. To many fans, her publicly expressed disdain for white people—and the portrayal of her character—suggests the series was developed with a specific agenda in mind. In fact, reports indicate that The Acolyte was conceived explicitly with her in mind, with Leslie Hedlin, a self-professed activist and former personal assistant to Harvey Weinstein, claiming the role was tailored for Stenberg withoutgoing through a standard audition process.