As Avatar: Fire and Ash dominates theaters worldwide following its December 19, 2025 release, Zoe Saldaña’s portrayal of Neytiri has once again thrust the franchise into the spotlight—not just for its stunning visuals, but for a brewing controversy over the actress’s description of her iconic character. In a series of promotional interviews, Saldaña referred to Neytiri as “a racist” and “a full-blown racist,” explaining that the Na’vi warrior’s deep-seated hatred toward humans stems from overwhelming grief and “blind fury.” The remarks quickly went viral, igniting fierce discussions across social media about prejudice, colonialism, trauma, and the complexities of the character’s evolution.

The comments originated from multiple outlets, including a standout interview with CinemaBlend where Saldaña delved into Neytiri’s emotional arc in the third installment. Picking up after the tragic events of Avatar: The Way of Water—where Neytiri and Jake Sully lose their eldest son, Neteyam—the film explores the Sully family’s ongoing struggle against human invaders. Saldaña described the role as “heavy and heartbreaking,” noting that portraying Neytiri’s rage was emotionally taxing. “Let’s face it, Neytiri’s a racist,” she stated bluntly. “And she just loses sight because of this blind fury that she has. She loses sight that the person that she loves the most and respects the most in her life is her husband, and he is human—he’s a sky-person.”

Saldaña elaborated that Neytiri’s prejudice blinds her to individual differences, even straining her bond with Jake (Sam Worthington), a former human now fully integrated into Na’vi life. She praised director James Cameron for not shying away from these darker aspects, emphasizing the need to confront how grief can poison one’s perspective. In other conversations, Saldaña called Neytiri “a full-blown racist” toward “sky people” (humans), particularly in her treatment of Spider, the human boy raised by the Sullys. Spider serves as a constant reminder of loss, yet Saldaña highlighted Neytiri’s eventual growth, choosing love and acceptance over hate.

Zoe Saldaña has embodied Neytiri since the original Avatar in 2009, a role that spans nearly two decades through motion-capture performances demanding physical and emotional intensity. The character, a fierce Omatikaya warrior princess, begins as a skilled archer and spiritual guide, falling in love with Jake while defending Pandora from resource-hungry humans. Over the sequels, Neytiri evolves into a protective mother, her loyalty to Eywa (the Na’vi’s guiding force) clashing with escalating threats. Fire and Ash delves deeper into themes of fire (rage and destruction) and ash (renewal and healing), with Neytiri’s journey central to exploring vengeance versus forgiveness.

The backlash erupted almost immediately on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit. Many fans accused Saldaña of misunderstanding Neytiri’s motivations, arguing that her anger is justified resistance to colonialism rather than racism. “You can’t be racist toward your oppressors,” one viral post declared, echoing sentiments that Neytiri’s hatred targets invaders destroying her home, culture, and family—not an entire species irrationally. Others pointed out that humans represent colonial forces exploiting Pandora, making Neytiri’s fury a metaphor for real-world indigenous struggles. Comments like “Her hate has nothing to do with race—it’s because her home is being attacked and colonized” flooded feeds, with some calling the wording “insane” or a “fundamental misunderstanding” of a character Saldaña has played for years.

Critics also tied the remarks to broader franchise debates, questioning whether labeling an indigenous-coded character “racist” equates the oppressed with oppressors. Some viewed it as flattening complex trauma, reducing Neytiri’s grief-fueled rage to mere prejudice. The discourse intensified around Spider, whom Neytiri initially rejects despite his loyalty, seen by detractors as unfair but by Saldaña as a realistic flaw stemming from pain.

Yet not all reactions were negative. Defenders praised Saldaña’s honesty, arguing she knows Neytiri better than anyone after 18 years in the role. “She’s literally Neytiri—you can’t argue with the source,” one supporter wrote. Others appreciated the nuance: Neytiri’s “racism” (prejudice against humans as a group) is portrayed as a character defect born from trauma, not endorsement. It humanizes her, showing how loss can distort values, even abandoning Eywa’s teachings of balance. Fans noted the arc leads to growth, with Neytiri ultimately embracing compassion, proving love conquers hate.

This isn’t the first time the Avatar series has sparked cultural conversations. James Cameron’s epic draws heavily from indigenous and environmental themes, often criticized for “white savior” tropes despite its anti-colonial message. Saldaña’s comments amplify these layers, forcing reflection on prejudice’s universality—even among victims. As one thoughtful post put it, trauma explains but doesn’t excuse blanket hatred, mirroring real-world complexities where pain can breed cycles of bias.

Amid the debate, Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its box-office dominance, praised for emotional depth and spectacle. Saldaña’s performance earns acclaim for capturing a mother’s raw rage and redemption, reminding audiences why Neytiri remains a beloved, multifaceted hero. Whether her wording was a misstep or bold insight, it has undeniably reignited passion for Pandora’s story, proving the franchise’s enduring power to provoke thought long after the credits roll.

In an era of nuanced storytelling, Saldaña’s candor highlights the risks and rewards of exploring flawed characters. Neytiri isn’t perfect—she’s grieving, furious, and fallible. And perhaps that’s what makes her relatable: a warrior wrestling with demons we all face in some form.