“Star Trek: Discovery” Star Sonequa Martin-Green Hits Back Critics On Show’s Diverse Cast

“Star Trek: Discovery” Star Sonequa Martin-Green has some choice words to critics who have expressed their disappointment in her upcoming show on CBS.

Martin-Green, whose big break was playing Sasha in “The Walking Dead,” became the first black woman to snag a lead role in a “Star Trek” series. Despite breaking the streak in assigning male characters as leads in the franchise, Digital Spy said “Star Trek: Discovery” received some backlash from diehard fans because of its “too diverse” cast.

Martin-Green, who plays First Commander Michael Burnham, was asked by Entertainment Weekly about the critics’ response to the new “Star Trek” show and she decided to take the high road, saying, “Well, I would encourage them to key into the essence and spirit of “Star Trek” that has made it the legacy it is — and that’s looking across the way to the person sitting in front of you and realizing you are the same, that they are not separate from you, and we are all one. That’s something “Star Trek” has always upheld and I completely believe that is why it’s been a mainstay in society in the hearts of so many people for so many decades. I would encourage them to look past their opinions and social conditioning and key into what we’re doing here — which is telling a story about humanity that will hopefully bring us all together.”

Aside from Martin-Green, Asian superstar Michelle Yeoh also lands a lead role in the series as Burnham’s superior, Captain Philippa Georgiou of the USS Shenzhou. Captain “Star Trek: Discovery” also stars Terry Serpico, Maulik Pancholy, James Frain, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Chris Obi, Shazad Latif, Mary Chieffo, Jason Isaacs, Mary Wiseman, Rainn Wilson, Clare McConnell, Damon Runyan, and Kenneth Mitchell. It will debut on CBS on September 24.