Riz Ahmed spoke to the British government about representation, and he nailed it

Exhibit A: 'Rogue One.'
 By 
Proma Khosla
 on 
Riz Ahmed spoke to the British government about representation, and he nailed it
Riz Ahmed being perfect Credit: Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock

Don't you love when your fave isn't problematic?

Riz Ahmed, the latest actor to be in literally everything, stopped by Britain's House of Commons on Thursday to speak to the Culture Minister about the importance of diversity in the media.

"Prominent successes can mask structural problems," Ahmed said in a speech peppered with film and TV references and hard facts about minority representation. "Obama was in the White House and you still needed the Black Lives Matter movement. I'm getting on a plane to L.A. to attend the Star Wars premiere, and I still get that second search before I board the plane."

Ahmed's speech pointed to the rise of hate crimes, which surged in the U.S. after Donald Trump's election and increased 326% in the U.K. since last year's Brexit. In his speech on diversity, Ahmed stressed the importance of minority individuals seeing themselves and their stories on screen and as part of a national narrative.

He zeroed in on British period dramas, which have become a staple of the nation's major networks and a surefire international export (Downton Abbey, The Crown, Victoria...you get it), but feature barely any people of color in front of or behind the camera.

Before he was in an international cinematic spotlight, Ahmed's work as a writer and rapper was full of sharp political and cultural observations.

"I'm here to ask for your help," Ahmed told Parliament. "I'm here to ask for your help in finding a new national story that embraces and empowers as many of us as possible, rather than excluding us and alienating large sections of the population."

Watch the full speech below:

Mashable Image
Proma Khosla

Proma Khosla is a Senior Entertainment Reporter writing about all things TV, from ranking Bridgerton crushes to composer interviews and leading Mashable's stateside coverage of Bollywood and South Asian representation. You might also catch her hosting video explainers or on Mashable's TikTok and Reels, or tweeting silly thoughts from @promawhatup.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
'Bait' review: Riz Ahmed's comedy series has us shaken, stirred, the whole lot
Guz Khan and Riz Ahmed in "Bait."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.




More in Entertainment
How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

How to watch USA vs. Portugal online for free
Joe Scally #19 of the United States

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!