This past week Latinx romantic comedy-drama The Baker and the Beauty was cancelled by ABC, according to Entertainment Weekly. However, series star Victor Rasuk (Fifty Shade of Grey, Godzilla) voiced his opinion and encouraged fans to bring the show back. More than 110,000 fans have signed petition asking for the revival of the show and renewal for a second season.
The Baker and the Beauty is based on the Israeli rom-com under the same name. It follows the Garcia family and how their lives are upended when the eldest son Daniel, played by Rasuk, meets and falls in love with Hollywood star Noa Hamilton, played by Nathalie Kelley (Dynasty). The show also delicately followed the coming out story of the youngest Garcia child Nathalie, played by Belissa Escobedo (Don’t Look Deeper) during the latter half of the season.
The show’s cancellation received backlash from fans, cast members and members of the BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+ community alike.
Rasuk tells Entertainment Weekly exclusively, “I think this show resonated with so many people because we just don’t see Latino families portrayed in a positive light on TV. But this story goes way beyond it being a Latino story because I heard from fans who were from different and diverse backgrounds—our stories are universal stories. I understand that ABC came to their decision to cancel and they had to do what was best for them as a network. Aside from signing the petition, fans can support the cause by continuing to talk about the show using the hashtag #SaveBakerandtheBeauty. ABC may not have been the right network for us but I am positive the right one is out there.” He furthers saying that “with the right social media push [the revival of The Baker and the Beauty] could happen!”
Currently, the world has a heightened sense of awareness for diversity and representation, something that is necessary in television and film. As reported by Deadline, Kelley voices that, “We want networks to commit wholeheartedly to ensuring that BIPOC, LATINX and LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized groups, get a chance to tell our stories. The Baker and The Beauty was a show that embodied the themes of unity, empathy, and compassion, all of which are so needed in our national discourse right now.”