Part 5/10:
The controversy was compounded when cast members publicly defended the changes and dismissed fans’ concerns as racism. Actor Owen Arthur, who plays Prince Durin, expressed frustration that “as a human race” we still have to “deal with” such issues, advocating for a simplified call for unity rather than acknowledging the cultural missteps in adaptation. Similarly, actor Ishmael Cruz Córdova, portraying a character named Iran Deer, claimed he received threats and hacking — yet provided no proof, relying on vague assertions to defend the show’s controversial choices.