Angelica Ross blasts Ryan Murphy for not following through on a Black-led “American Horror Story”

Actor Angelica Ross is calling out producer Ryan Murphy for not following through on a teased season of American Horror Story that would have been led by a cast of Black women. The star of Murphy’s Pose and multiple seasons of AHS also suggested that the producer may have cost her a Marvel role.

On Monday, Ross posted screenshots on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) of what appear to be emails between herself and Murphy.

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“It was a story of a gay man and, more importantly, his gay victims.”

In one message, dated July 3, 2020, Murphy wrote, “Remember your idea about a HORROR season starring black women? Well I’m doing it. Not sure of the story yet, but we will start a writers room in the fall.”

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The showrunner also asked Ross who he should get to star in the season, suggesting Ross herself as well as “Keke Palmer, Gabby…”

Ross responded the same day with a long list of Black actresses she wanted to star opposite, including Debbi Morgan, Lynn Whitfield, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Kerry Washington, and Halle Berry.

“So, as Nella considered why she distrusted Needles and Pins so much, she also considered what Jesse had said about white people who went out of their way to present “diversity” (1/2) @zakiya_harris #TheOtherBlackGirl pic.twitter.com/2wbJWh4KCb

— A N G E L I C A (@angelicaross) September 18, 2023

In another tweet, Ross wrote that she did not hear back from Murphy, even after sending flowers. She included a screenshot of a February 7, 2022, follow-up message to Murphy about the proposed season, asking if she could be considered “on the producing side as well.”

“I think I could add a lot to the table in the overall storyline if we are still looking to do a Black lead cast,” she wrote in her message to Murphy.

In her tweet, she also revealed that while she was “still contractually in first position” on American Horror Story, Marvel “had called twice.” She added that she has not heard back from Murphy.

After not hearing back. After sending flowers and no response I sent one last email in Feb 2022 (it took about a year to film season 10 due to COVID) while still contractually in first position with the show. Mind you, marvel had called twice now. I haven’t heard from him… pic.twitter.com/s7HfeABd8j

— A N G E L I C A (@angelicaross) September 18, 2023

“One white director was MOPING on set saying he doesn’t think he’s coming back next season because there’s been a ‘change in direction,’” she wrote in a subsequent tweet. “I just smiled knowing what it was but trust some folks weren’t thrilled cuz they knew I’d press for Black directors, writers…AS PER MY EMAIL.”

On Tuesday, The Wrap reported that a source familiar with the situation said that Murphy’s anthology series often consider multiple ideas for potential season-long storylines before moving forward to the development stage.

“It’s not JUST that the idea changed,” Ross tweeted in response. “Things change all the time. It’s that I called business affairs for MONTHS trying to get clarity if they were picking up my contract option or if I was ok to tell Marvel that I was available for whatever they were calling me for. I had been auditioning for THREE YEARS for marvel. It’s that I was HELD in first position the whole time.”

It’s not JUST that the idea changed. Things change all the time. It’s that I called business affairs for MONTHS trying to get clarity if they were picking up my contract option or if I was ok to tell Marvel that I was available for whatever they were calling me for. I had been… https://t.co/On0sBPfRTK

— A N G E L I C A (@angelicaross) September 18, 2023

In a follow-up tweet, Ross wrote that she was “not even done pulling out the receipts.”

“Will also tell you about the transphobic remarks my co-star said to my face, and the racism I complained about on set that they said was ‘free speech,’” she wrote in another post on Tuesday. “We on strike so you know I got time this week.”

Will also tell you about the transphobic remarks my co-star said to my face, and the racism I complained about on set that they said was “free speech”. We on strike so you know I got time this week.

— A N G E L I C A (@angelicaross) September 19, 2023

The 12th season of American Horror Story starring Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian, and Cara Delevingne premieres this week. The show was picketed in May for continuing to film during the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Earlier this month, Murphy announced the creation of a fund to support Ryan Murphy Productions cast and crew who have been affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.