The release of Marvel’s Ironheart trailer sparked a storm of reactions, with many calling the series “too woke.”
The release of Marvel’s Ironheart trailer has sparked a storm of reactions, with a significant amount of hate, as some fans claim the series is “too woke.” The trailer, which introduces Riri Williams, a black female superhero, has faced backlash from a portion of the MCU fanbase, who are upset over the increasing diversity in superhero stories. This reaction goes beyond just the usual criticism; there’s a deep–rooted racism and sexism at play.
The Ironheart Trailer: A New Era For Marvel
The Ironheart trailer, released on May 14, 2025, introduces Riri Williams, a brilliant MIT student who builds her own Iron Man–style suit of armor. Portrayed by Dominique Thorne, Riri is set to face off against the mystical villain Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, played by Anthony Ramos. The series will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting June 24, 2025.
For many fans, the trailer represents an exciting new direction for the MCU, as it introduces a young, black female protagonist into the superhero world. However, as with any major shift in representation, not everyone is on board.
The Backlash: From Criticism To Hate
While the trailer received plenty of positive reactions, it also faced a huge wave of negativity. Twitter pages like DiscussingFilm were forced to turn off the comments when they posted the Ironheart trailer due to the overwhelming amount of racist hate speech flooding in. People argue that the series is part of a “woke” agenda aimed at replacing traditional characters like Iron Man with diverse alternatives.
The first trailer for 'IRONHEART' has been released.Premiering June 24 on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/qO2n41ftS5
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 14, 2025
This reaction is not just about a TV show or a character but part of a larger culture war over diversity in entertainment. Riri’s position as a young black woman taking on the role of a superhero challenges traditional portrayals of white, male heroes and strikes at the heart of longstanding racial and gender norms.
What’s Woke?
The term “woke” has often been weaponized to dismiss efforts toward greater racial and gender equality. In the case of Ironheart, it’s a shield for racism and sexism, hiding behind a word that has been distorted to mean something negative. There’s a long history in the fanbase of rejecting diversity, and when that diversity comes in the form of strong women (just ask Brie Larson), especially women of color, it becomes an even bigger issue. This conversation doesn't even make sense to begin with since the character is a black woman in the comics as well, so nothing has been changed or, as about 70% of the Marvel fanbase would say, "gone woke."
People keep calling Ironheart a "raceswap" or "DEI" but Riri Williams has always been black since her creation u all just don't read comics pic.twitter.com/bKfcFyget7
— (((yuri master nocturne))) (@yurimaxed) May 15, 2025
Lose–Lose Situation
Some people who defend the Ironheart trailer or reject the hate ask: what's the real issue? When black actors take on traditionally white roles, like Sam Wilson as Captain America or Halle Bailey as Ariel, people complain there aren’t enough original stories for black characters. But when original black characters like Riri Williams, who has always been a black woman in the comics, are introduced, the same critics still oppose it. So, what's the goal here? It seems nothing satisfies that part of the fanbase. It seems the issue isn’t about originality or being “woke,” it’s about not wanting to see black people or women in these roles.
What do they really want? “Woke” is when women exist, “woke” is when black people exist, what’s the endgame? That these groups disappear from movies and shows? Newsflash: Black people exist, women exist, and that's not “woke” – it’s the reality we live in. Movies and TV often reflect that reality. Over half the population are women, and there are plenty of black people in the world. This is not something that can be ignored, no matter how much it’s hidden behind excuses about entertainment.
Show looks solid. We're letting perpetually online folks drive the narrative too much. Most of them will scream DEI and Woke at anything with a woman or minority in a leading role. Ignore them.
— Matt Burchfield (@kingcujoI) May 15, 2025
The truth is, these people are upset about things they aren’t even watching. If you don’t want to watch Ironheart, don’t watch it. Most of the people complaining likely won’t watch it anyway. It’s the same as with The Little Mermaid, grown adults complaining about a children’s movie, yet many of them didn’t even watch it. The real issue here isn’t about the films themselves. It’s rooted in racism and sexism.
What do you think – way too woke or an issue to be tackled by the likes of Iron Man, Ironheart or your good old friendly neighborhood spider? Let us know in the comments!