Riverdale star Cole Sprouse was arrested during a Black Lives Matter protest over the weekend. The actor is known for portraying Jughead Jones on The CW’s hit show, which is based on the characters of Archie Comics. Sprouse is also known for being a part of other beloved shows. Beginning in 2001, Sprouse appeared on Friends as Ben, the son of Ross Geller. Alongside his twin brother, Dylan, Sprouse was also the lead of Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In 2019, the actor headlined the romantic drama Five Feet Apart. More recently, Sprouse has lent his voice to the narrative podcast Borrasca.
The Black Lives Matter protests have intensified in recent days, in the U.S., following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man, passed away on May 25 after being pinned to the ground by a white police officer. The officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for close to nine minutes in spite of Floyd’s repeated pleas that he could not breathe. The case has inflamed already existing tensions between law enforcement and communities, spreading to several cities and dominating the headlines. The intensity and urgency of the moment has led many brands and corporations to issue statements in support of the protesters who are rallying for change. Celebrities have also gotten involved. Over the weekend, actor John Cusack shared a video of an altercation he had with police while taking part in Chicago’s protests.
Sprouse has likewise taken to social media to let his followers know he was arrested during a peaceful protest on Sunday. The Riverdale actor explained that he’d been detained while standing in solidarity with other protesters. Sprouse said they were given the option to leave and were told they would be arrested if they did not take the option. Sprouse went on to explain that many protesters turned to leave, only to be met by a line of officers that blocked their path. Sprouse’s full post, which touches on the media’s coverage of the protest, is included below.
A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica. So before the voracious horde of media sensationalism decides to somehow turn it about me, there’s a clear need to speak about the circumstances: Black Lives Matter. Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda. I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested. When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us. It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement. This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing. This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well. I noticed that there are cameras that roll within the police cruisers during the entirety of our detainment, hope it helps. I’ll speak no more on the subject, as I’m (1) not well versed enough to do so, (2) not the subject of the movement, and (3) uninterested in drawing attention away from the leaders of the #BLM movement. I will be, again, posting the link in my story to a comprehensive document for donations and support.
In the post, Sprouse made sure to point out that his experience pales in comparison to what people of color experience and noted that he highlighted what happened to him in an effort to help others contemplate the meaning of being an ally to those with less privilege in society.
The protests have placed something of a spotlight on celebrities, in general. Many well-known names have been severely criticized for responding poorly to the news or, in some cases, responding in a late and merely symbolic fashion. Brands and corporations have also been similarly called out by activists and affected communities. As Sprouse correctly mentions, the focus should remain on the people who will continue to push for change long after the international attention has faded.
Source: Cole Sprouse