Che Diaz might not return to And Just Like That, and people are feeling conflicted

Ever since the catastrophe known as And Just Like That decimated screens in late 2021, the name “Che Diaz” has been a cultural byword. Played by nonbinary actor Sara Ramírez, the character sharply divided audiences by performing incredibly cringe standup (about being nonbinary, natch) hitting on Miranda, and generally feeling like part of what one critic identified as the show’s “diversity girlfriend”—in Che’s case, theyfriend—problem.

That said, fans are feeling torn after Ramírez implied in a recent Instagram post that their involvement in the show—and subsequently, the Che Diaz arc—might not be long for this world.

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A post shared by Sara Ramirez (@therealsararamirez)

In the post, Ramírez passionately points out the hypocrisy of Hollywood and so many other industries in failing to speak out against the genocide currently underway in Gaza. “…we are beyond the 100 day mark on this “war” that has been acknowledged by many, including the ICC, as a genocide,” Ramírez wrote. “It’s wild how performative so many in Hollywood are. Even more performative than the last character I played.”

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Many have chosen to interpret the last statement as a not-so-veiled commentary on Che Diaz, a character written so poorly that even people who should have felt seen by their inclusion in the show ultimately ended up feeling pissed off, used, and annoyed each episode.

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So what does it mean? Some have taken the post to imply that Diaz has been excluded from season 3 of And Just Like That due to Ramírez speaking out on the genocide in Gaza. Others still have pointed out that Cynthia Nixon has also been vocal about protesting Israel’s attack on Gaza and hasn’t faced any repercussions that we know of. That said, it wasn’t too long ago that Melissa Barrera was axed from the Scream 6 sequel for voicing her pro-Palestine views, so it’s entirely possible (and indeed realistic) that folks of color speaking out are subject to harsher consequences in Hollywood.

Mostly, people don’t know how to respond. Yes, Che Diaz was a performative nonbinary character, and yes, many people probably tuned in for the drama and mess of that portrayal.

Some are taking the news hard…

Some are experiencing instant nostalgia for everything Che Diaz is and was…

And some are simply sitting back and seeing it all unfold…

Whatever the fate of Che Diaz, they certainly aren’t the last “performative” nonbinary character we’ll be seeing on TV anytime soon. Representation comes in waves, folks: slow, annoying, performative waves.