Sara Ramírez has somehow managed to avoid fans’ polarized reaction to Che on And Just Like That…
The Grey's Anatomy alum was “aware that Che made waves,” but stayed out of the discourse
Aux News Che
It was nigh on impossible to avoid Che Diaz discourse while the first season of And Just Like That… was airing. Yet Sara Ramírez claims that while they were “aware” their character “made waves,” they largely managed to avoid the Che backlash.
For Variety’s Pride Month cover story (incredibly titled, “Yep, I’m Che,” as a nod to Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out Time cover), Ramírez shared their approach to playing a divisive role: “Other people’s opinions of a character—that’s not something I can allow into my process.”
“I choose what I receive, right?” they went on “That’s the beauty of being grown—I don’t have to receive everything! And this is [showrunner] Michael [Patrick King]’s baby. He created this role. He wrote it. Those are his and his writing team’s jokes.”
Speaking of King, he described Che’s arc in the second season “one of my burning passions,” telling the outlet, “I want to show more of Che rather than less of Che. Like, really.”
Luckily, Ramírez loves the character, even if many fans decidedly do not. But they’re well aware that Che can be unlikable: “What I love about Che is that Che is complicated and messy and human. Che is a great reminder that even when we don’t like someone in our community, they still deserve love, safety and joy, like everyone else.”
The actor went on, “But the movement for liberation includes everyone, even people we don’t like. This movement, this fight, this party of pride, isn’t just for the people who make us feel cozy and cute—it’s for everyone.”
That said, Ramírez was adamant that playing a marginalized character isn’t a “radical” act. Providing a refreshing perspective on the ongoing conversation around representation in media, they told Variety, “Visibility isn’t justice. Because visibility without action and consideration for real people that exist means nothing.”
25 Comments
A very fair take especially considering that almost none of the Sex and the City characters are likable in the first place.
Steve?That’s all I got.
I feel very protective of Steve. Miranda treating him like shit was a big reason I hated the show. He’s the only good one of the lot!
Although I guess he did cheat first.
I don’t mind Charlotte’s second husband but I also haven’t seen anything after season 4
He’s a good mensch. Also, they did Steve so dirty in the sequel series I forgot he cheated on Miranda first. So I guess not even him.
Chief?
Thank you! Everybody on that show sucks. Really weird that people singled out that character in particular in a whole deck of annoying assholes
But I like feeling cozy and cute.
THIS ISN’T FOR YOU!
Uh huh.
Nuh-uh!
Che wasn’t polarizing; we all hated them.
It sounds like Ramirez is perfectly aware of the hatred of Che. They even seems to pin the blame for that backlash on the writing of the show. It just seems like Ramirez is able to not be especially bothered by it all, which seems like a fair and mature reaction. Their job is to play the role for which they were cast, and it doesn’t seem like the bulk of the complaints here are about Ramirez’s acting.
Sara Ramirez is fantastic. Che is terrible. But nuMiranda is the absolute worst.
You know who isn’t getting backlash due to this show now being terrible (moreso)? Kim Cattrall
Samantha knows a thing or two about the importance of pulling out at the nick of time.
I refused to watch this season because I heard this Che character ‘does a lot of weed,’ and I am not a fan of television shows pushing their pro-drug agendas onto the family.
I haven’t watched many things that Sara Ramirez has been in, but my favorite role is the tiny part in You’ve Got Mail as the cashier at Zabar’s who gives a hard time to Meg Ryan’s character and then is all smiles once Joe Fox tells the corny Knock Knock joke.
ohmygodddddddddddddddddddddddddddddYES I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE THAT WAS THEM
You gotta go back and watch now. It’s one of my favorite parts of that movie (which is one of my favorite movies). The deadpan “Happy Thanksgiving back” and “Who’s there?” is classic.
Just went to their wikipedia. Good God, they’ve had a hell of career. They were Lammy in UmJammer Lammy!! Anyway, haven’t watched this show, but I’ve seen the Che memes.
Part of their character being disliked, for me at least, is that they are supposed to be this big time really funny comedian and they weren’t funny or charismatic on stage at all. Felt like open mic night.
“And this is [showrunner] Michael [Patrick King]’s baby. He created this role. He wrote it. Those are his and his writing team’s jokes.”Translation: it’s not my fault Che’s jokes are terrible.
I don’t think you should compromise your art for popular demand, but MPK doubling down and making Che his “burning passion” and giving us even more of them is so childish. He and Cynthia Nixon seem completely incapable of engaging with criticism – which is why I have no faith that they’ll be able to improve the character with this increased screentime. People aren’t just being big old meanies to you. Your writing sucks.