We can always count on our beloved Hobbits to save the day.
Yesterday on Twitter Lord of the Rings actors Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan showed their support for their fellow Tolkien actors in The Rings of Power. The Lord of the Rings actors tweeted photos of themselves wearing gear that reads “You Are All Welcome Here,” in Elvish, above different ears from Tolkien characters in varying shades of skin tones.
Several cast members of Amazon’s The Rings of Power have been bombarded with hateful, racist comments and messages from viewers criticizing the show and its decision to cast people of color as Elves, Dwarves, and Harfoots.
Cast members like Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays Silvan elf Arondir, and Sophia Nomvete, who plays dwarf Princess Disa, have previously spoken out about the racist comments they’ve received from Tolkien “fans.” Now, they have support from the original Hobbits themselves.
The shirts and hats were made by Don Marshall, a TikTok user who is best known for sharing “obscure LotR facts to his 590,000+ followers. Marshall has been enthusiastic about the new series, and earlier this month asked his followers for help in identifying “racist and misogynistic” users who were flooding his comment section with hateful messages. You can see his video below.
Fans were able to order their own “You Are All Welcome Here” gear, but it seems it’s all sold out now. (Excellent work, everyone!)
Since the Lord of the Rings actors tweeted the photos yesterday, many have voiced their praise for supporting their Rings of Power friends, including some of the actors themselves. Benjamin Walker, who plays the elf High King Gil-galad, and Owain Arthur, who plays dwarf Prince Durin IV, and Córdova all showed their appreciation for the actors.
Retweeting Wood’s post, Córdova wrote, “We belong in Middle-Earth.”