After Attacking Nani Actress For Not Being Dark Enough, Disney Activists Likewise Decry Actor Kahiau Machado As Too Light-Skinned To Play David In Upcoming ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Live-Action Remake

David Kawena (Jason Scott Lee) realizes he's covered in black soot in Lilo & Stitch (2002), Walt Disney Studios
David Kawena (Jason Scott Lee) realizes he's covered in black soot in Lilo & Stitch (2002), Walt Disney Studios

After having attacked actress Sydney Adugong for being too ‘light-skinned’ to accurately portray the character of Nani in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, discontent activists have now doubled down on their own hypocrisy by leveling the same accusations against the film’s newly cast David actor, Kahiau Machado.

David Kawena (Jason Scott Lee) attempts to convince Nani (Tia Carrere) and Lilol (Daveigh Chase) to catch some waves in Lilo & Stitch (2002), Walt Disney Studios

RELATED: Disney Fans Who Supported ‘The Little Mermaid’ Race-Swapping Attack Newly Cast ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Live-Action Remake Actress Sydney Agudong For Not Being Dark Enough To Play Nani

Machado’s casting as Lilo & Stitch’s resident surf guru was first announced on April 17th, courtesy of an exclusive published by The Hollywood Reporter.

A former member of the University of Hawaii’s men’s volleyball team and a native Hawaiian himself, Machado’s appearance in Lilo & Stitch will be the fledgling actor’s first major acting credit.

David Kawena (Jason Scott Lee) and Lilo (Daveigh Chase) are taken aback by Stitch's (Chris Sanders) feral nature in Lilo & Stitch (2002), Walt Disney Studios

Yet, despite Machado’s possession of indigenous Haiwaiian ancestry and Tan skin (which, given his heritage, would likely darken even further after some time spent in the sun), the identity politics-obsessed audience Disney has spent the last few years cultivating was wholly unhappy with his casting.

Like with Adugong, these activists – many of whom supported Disney’s live-action race-swapping of such characters as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan & Wendy and Ariel in The Little Mermaid – felt that Machado was both too light-skinned and held too many ‘European features’ to properly portray David.

David Kawena (Jason Scott Lee) discovers Stitch (Chris Sanders) is an alien in Lilo & Stitch (2002), Walt Disney Studios

“This casting is missing a lot,” said actor Gilluis Pérez. “I don’t get the eurocentricism they’re going with.”

@GilluisPerez_ weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

“Casting director quit your job challenge,” tweeted @daniellecanyell. “the colorism/eurocentrism is so blatant”.

@daniellecanyell weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

RELATED: Disney’s Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’ To Edit Classic Songs, Will Remove Problematic Lyrics Related To Consent And Hurting Girls’ Feelings

“I don’t support blood quantum in any way,” wrote @BraydenSylva. “Yes, they did get actors who have Native Hawaiian ancestry. They did get Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and this is still colorist as hell. There are several Kanaka who look more like Nani and David than who they got. This sucks.”

@BraydenSylva weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

 

“I’m convinced the casting director just hates black people,” @somari8591 accused, despite the fact that David is not black in any way, shape, or form.

@somari8591 weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

 

“They might as well rename this film ‘LIGHTSKIN & STITCH’,” bleated @iamshakeena. “At this point Stitch is gonna be beige as well”.

@iamshakeena weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

……anyways I’m so glad the original animated Lilo & Stitch is already a perfect film and is currently streaming on Disney+ with characters of an appropriate shade for my viewing pleasure,” passive aggressively remarked @Jordanbloked.

@Jordanbloked weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

 

“When u photograph brown people with eurocentric features this is what you empower,” chastised @Hubineer. “Photographers, artists, filmmakers, advertisers, casting agents…. like LITERALLY stop upholding the same things you ~say~ you want to abolish”.

@hubineer weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

 

“That man is whiter than bleach what are they thinking,” bafflingly declared @ActivismMeo.

@AcitivismMeo weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

“No joke im not watching this,” said @georknee_. “The story was above native Hawaiians. I have yet to see a native Hawaiian person casted. And before anyone starts, there’s a difference between being a native Hawaiian and just being born in Hawaii”.

@georknee_ weighs in on Kahiau Machado's casting as David in Disney's live-action 'Lilo & Stitch' remake

As of writing, Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch remake has yet to receive an official release date.

NEXT: ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ Star Yara Shahidi Says Disney Remaking Animated Classic In Order To Give Black And Brown Audiences “The Fairy Tale We Deserve”

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