Octavia Spencer‘s turn in Hidden Figures as Dorothy Vaughan, a real-life mathematician who helped send John Glenn into orbit in 1962, has already earned her rave reviews and an Oscar nomination for the role. However, there are some detractors who doubt that the story behind the film is true, and Spencer is taking them to task for it.
In an interview with the New York Times, Spencer revealed that “there are a few idiots out there who think it didn’t happen,” which she related to the current political climate.
“It’s the Trumpites who think people are bending the truth,” Spencer said. “It’s mind-boggling to me that we have totally regressed to this whole labeling and colorism and just ridiculous racist bigotry that is percolating in society right now.”
Spencer didn’t shy away from politics later in the interview, urging fans to call their representatives and to donate to the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as to practice self-care.
“Every now and then I have to turn the news off, and guard my space, my home, with solace, with positive energy,” she said. “We have four years to put up with this.”
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Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com