Boycott: I Will Survive the Gloria Gaynor Story

The upcoming Lifetime movie I Will Survive has come under fire for casting Joaquina Kalukango, a first-generation American of Angolan descent, as Gloria Gaynor—an American Freedman. As a result, I am officially adding I Will Survive to the Boycott List.

This casting decision highlights a persistent issue: Flat Blackness continues to erase the distinct history and lived experiences of Freedmen, robbing them of the opportunity to represent their own stories. According to Wikipedia, Kalukango, though undoubtedly talented, “graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School. She is of Angolan descent, and her parents arrived in the United States as political refugees.” While she may be dedicated to portraying “the Black experience,” she does not share the Freedmen lineage that is central to Gloria Gaynor’s story.

On January 25, 2025, a certified Boycott Letter was sent to Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts) and Lifetime TV (@lifetimetv), directly addressing these concerns. If you’d like to read the full letter, you can find it in the comments.

This is about more than one casting choice—it’s about holding media accountable for authentic representation, especially when it comes to Freedmen history.

What do you think? Should Hollywood and television networks change their approach to casting when telling Freedmen stories? Share your thoughts below!

Stay tuned for updates as this develops.